Donald J. DeCoste is Associate Director of General Chemistry at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and has been teaching chemistry at the high school and college levels for over 25 years. He earned his BS in Chemistry and PhD from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. At UIUC he teaches courses in introductory chemistry and the teaching of chemistry and has developed chemistry courses for non-science majors, preservice secondary teachers, and preservice elementary teachers. He has received the LAS Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, the Provost's Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award, and the School of Chemical Sciences Teaching Award four times. Don has led workshops for secondary teachers and graduate student teaching assistants, discussing the methods and benefits of getting students more actively involved in class. When not involved in teaching and advising, Don enjoys spending time with his wife and three children.