Kathryn D. Kloepper

Kathryn D. Kloepper, Ph.D., was appointed as chief of staff for Mercer University President Penny L. Elkins, Ph.D., in March 2026. A professor of chemistry, Kloepper previously served as vice provost for engaged learning. In this role, she coordinated the University’s successful reclassification application for the highly competitive Carnegie Community Engagement Classification, which was awarded in January 2026. She also contributed to Mercer’s recognition in 2022 as one of three recipients of the worldwide Council on Undergraduate Research’s Campus-Wide Award for Undergraduate Research Accomplishments.

Kloepper joined the Mercer faculty in 2009 as visiting professor of chemistry in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. In 2010, she was appointed assistant professor of chemistry, and she was promoted to associate professor and granted tenure in 2015. She was promoted to full professor in 2022. Kloepper directed the Great Books program from 2015-2017 and directed Mercer’s Research That Reaches Out Quality Enhancement Plan from 2017-2021. She was appointed vice provost for engaged learning in 2020.

A graduate of the University of Dallas, Kloepper earned her Ph.D. in chemistry at the University of Illinois. During her time at Mercer, Kloepper has mentored more than 35 undergraduate researchers and co-authored more than a dozen peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters with Mercer faculty and students. She is the recipient of the 2013-2014 Innovations in Teaching Award, which is co-sponsored by the Vulcan Materials Company and Mercer. In 2017, Kloepper was recognized by the Student Government Association as Professor of the Year.

Contact Kathryn Kloepper

478-301-5700
kloepper_kd@mercer.edu