President, Higher Degree Consulting, Inc.
Greater Boston Area
- Current
-
- President at Higher Degree Consulting, Inc.
- Test-Item Writer, Chemistry & Physical Science at Measured Progress
- Adjunct Professor of Chemistry at Great Bay Community College
- Lecturer in Chemistry, College of Professional Studies at Northeastern University
- Past
-
- Chemistry Instructor, Adult High-School Diploma Program at Exeter Adult Education Progam
- Visiting Lecturer in Chemistry at Salem State College
- Technical Support Specialist, III at New Objective, Inc.
- Education Specialist, Medical Oncology at IMPAC Medical Systems
- Technical-Training Consultant, Research Informatics at Biogen Idec
- Product Specialist, Drug Dissolution Analysis at Delphian Technology Inc.
- Applications Specialist, XRD at Philips Analytical, Inc.
- Materials Scientist at OSRAM SYLVANIA, INC.
- Research Consultant at University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Research Associate at University of New Hampshire
- Tutoring Chair & Freelance Tutor at Marston House/ University of New Hampshire
- Summer Research Fellow at University of Southern Mississippi
- Education
-
- Northeastern University
- Northeastern University
- University of Massachusetts at Amherst
- University of New Hampshire
- Connections
-
9
connections
- Industry
- Education Management
- Websites
Christopher J. Toher’s Summary
-Chemistry Tutoring (High-School & College)
-Knowledge Assessment
-Academic Coaching
-College-Admissions Consulting
-Professional Training
-Marketing & Promotional Strategies
Christopher J. Toher’s Specialties:
In-Person, Group, and Online Tutoring, Assessment of Student Knowledge, Academic Coaching (Including Students with Learning Disabilities), Learning-Style & Study-Skill Counseling, Professional-Skill Training, Marketing Services to Target Audiences
Christopher J. Toher’s Experience
-
President
Higher Degree Consulting, Inc.
(Education Management industry)
March 2006 — Present (3 years 5 months)
-Tutored High-School and College-level Chemistry via one-on-one, group, and online sessions
-Facilitated the academic success of hundreds of students of all ages
-Advised undergraduate interns on computational skills and procedures required in a modern chemical/biotech laboratory
-Advised on preparation and editing of school-admissions documentation
-Managed business development, scheduling, and finances for consistent profit -
Test-Item Writer, Chemistry & Physical Science
Measured Progress
(Non-Profit; 201-500 employees; Education Management industry)
March 2004 — Present (5 years 5 months)
Authored standardized-test questions in Chemistry & Physical Science for numerous U.S. states
-Multiple-Choice Questions with accompanying distractor analyses
-Constructed-Response Questions with point-calibrated rubrics and scorer-training notes -
Adjunct Professor of Chemistry
Great Bay Community College
(Higher Education industry)
January 2001 — Present (8 years 7 months)
-Taught General Chemistry 1 & Organic Chemistry to students in biotechnology- and health-related majors
-Facilitated development and assessed student knowledge in Chemistry
-Contributed to developing a tutor-training curriculum in Academic-Support Services department
-Pioneered the institution's first hybrid General Chemistry I & II (CHEM 115 & CHEM 116) courses -
Lecturer in Chemistry, College of Professional Studies
Northeastern University
(Educational Institution; 1001-5000 employees; Higher Education industry)
January 2000 — Present (9 years 7 months)
-Taught multiple lecture and laboratory sections of Chemical Principles 1, 2, and 3 in on-ground, online, and hybrid formats
-Pioneered, designed, and delivered first 100% online lecture Chemistry courses -
Chemistry Instructor, Adult High-School Diploma Program
Exeter Adult Education Progam
(Education Management industry)
September 2008 — December 2008 (4 months)
-Instructed adult students in the fundamental knowledge, problem-solving, and laboratory skills of a high-school level Chemistry course
-Supervised students in laboratory experiments illustrating key chemical concepts -
Visiting Lecturer in Chemistry
Salem State College
(Educational Institution; 501-1000 employees; Higher Education industry)
January 2008 — August 2008 (8 months)
-Taught summer-intensive lecture and laboratory sections for CHE 124: General Chemistry for the Life Sciences & CHE 125: Chemistry of Life Processes
-Led problem-solving discussion groups in CHE 130 General Chemistry and Organic & Biological Chemistry
-Taught multiple laboratory sections of General Chemistry and Organic & Biological Chemistry -
Technical Support Specialist, III
New Objective, Inc.
(Biotechnology industry)
November 2004 — January 2008 (3 years 3 months)
-Designed first product training curriculum
-Facilitated focus groups to assess product training needs.
-Authored instructional documents for application and marketing of ESI-MS technologies.
-Assisted with analysis of proteomic samples by LC-MS; edited and authored research posters and publications. -
Education Specialist, Medical Oncology
IMPAC Medical Systems
(Health, Wellness and Fitness industry)
March 2004 — November 2004 (9 months)
-Delivered software training in Practice Management, Billing, & Patient Treatment for Medical-Oncology/Chemotherapy Clinics throughout the United States
-Developed in-house training and lesson-planning materials for other Education Specialists in Medical-Oncology
-Provided live customer support and training by phone and Internet -
Technical-Training Consultant, Research Informatics
Biogen Idec
(Public Company; 1001-5000 employees; BIIB; Biotechnology industry)
April 2003 — December 2003 (9 months)
-Established first formal training curricula and served as sole training resource in Core Informatics
-Designed/Delivered instructional and knowledge assessment materials for internally-developed software programs for storage and communication of biological research data.
-Provided classroom and one-on-one software instruction to pharmaceutical professionals
-Designed/Delivered sensitivity training on information security and terrorist threats -
Product Specialist, Drug Dissolution Analysis
Delphian Technology Inc.
(Pharmaceuticals industry)
September 2002 — April 2003 (8 months)
-Served as sole training and curriculum development consultant
-Designed/Delivered comprehensive dissolution instrument and software training.
-Researched and published drug dissolution kinetics by ultraviolet spectroscopy -
Applications Specialist, XRD
Philips Analytical, Inc.
(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; PHG; Consumer Electronics industry)
July 2001 — May 2002 (11 months)
-Designed/Delivered/Managed technical training for x-ray diffraction hardware and software.
-Developed entire curriculum for novel XRD phase identification software.
-Provided technical, sales, and marketing support for sales engineers.
-Designed XRD Application Notes, advertisements, and print media for worldwide distribution. -
Materials Scientist
OSRAM SYLVANIA, INC.
(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing industry)
June 1997 — June 2001 (4 years 1 month)
-Analyzed samples submitted through production, research, development.
-Improved existing particle size analysis, revised SOP for assessing end paint-coating properties
-Authored methodology, SOP, and reported on particle size analysis of yttira for HPS lamps.
-Developed XRD method to quantify crystalline components of glass ceramic matrix -
Research Consultant
University of Massachusetts Amherst
(Educational Institution; 1001-5000 employees; Higher Education industry)
January 1997 — June 1997 (6 months)
• Surveyed over 40 years of chemistry education research literature at all educational levels.
• Compiled electronic research index for a developing research program in educational technology. -
Research Associate
University of New Hampshire
(Educational Institution; 1001-5000 employees; Higher Education industry)
January 1995 — January 1997 (2 years 1 month)
Conducted hundreds of interviews with General Chemistry students to analyze common misconceptions and problem-solving strategies related to the particulate nature of matter. Assisted with organization and analysis of research data.
-
Tutoring Chair & Freelance Tutor
Marston House/ University of New Hampshire
(Higher Education industry)
September 1993 — December 1996 (3 years 4 months)
-Managed a nonprofit, on-campus free tutoring organization comprised of 50 volunteers specializing in all subject areas.
-Coordinated marketing efforts and staff-recognition events.
-Served as a tutor in Chemistry, English/ Writing, and Psychology
-Received eponymous award recognizing outstanding service and dedication to UNH-campus community. -
Summer Research Fellow
University of Southern Mississippi
(Educational Institution; 1001-5000 employees; Higher Education industry)
May 1996 — August 1996 (4 months)
-Assisted with research programs on alternative assessment in college-chemistry instruction. Use of computer- and video-based assessment were explored as predictive instruments for paper-and-pencil examination performance.
-Course work in the Theory & Practice of Laboratory Safety
Christopher J. Toher’s Education
-
Northeastern University
Certification , E-Learning Design & Instruction , 2007 — 2007
-
Northeastern University
M.S. , Chemistry , 1998 — 2000
- Activities and Societies:
- Contributed to two major research endeavors:
-Incorporating cGMP/GLP in Undergraduate Analytical Chemistry
-Graphite Nanofilbers: Research & Product Development
-
University of Massachusetts at Amherst
Advanced Graduate Studies , Science Education , 1997 — 1997
Course work in Urban Education, Work of the Middle & High-School Teacher, Recent Issues in Science Education, Aqueous & Environmental Geochemistry
-
University of New Hampshire
B.A. , Chemistry (Cum Laude); Psychology Minor , 1993 — 1996
- Activities and Societies:
- -Chaired on-campus, non-profit tutoring organization for 3.5 years
-Contributed to two major research studies in Chemical Education:
1.) Student Attitudes Toward the High-School Chemistry Experience
2.) Employing a Think-Aloud Problem-Solving Protocol for the Diagnosis & Pedagogic Remediation of Chemical Misconceptions
Additional Information
Christopher J. Toher’s Websites:
Christopher J. Toher’s Interests:
Chemistry Tutoring (High School & College), Online Tutoring, Academic Coaching, Science Education (K-12 & College), Higher Education, Educational Assessment/ Standardized-Test Preparation & Development, College-Application Consulting & Assistance, Professional Writing, Professional Speaking
Christopher J. Toher’s Honors:
-Who's Who of Professional Educators
-Vernon Lerch Chemistry Award
Christopher J. Toher’s Contact Settings
Interested In:
- career opportunities
- consulting offers
- expertise requests
- business deals
- reference requests
- getting back in touch
