As of Fall, 2007, the Chemistry Department has nine full-time faculty, one adjunct instructor, four Emeritus faculty and a full-time staff of two. On occasion, experts from local industry serve as part-time instructors. The department is approved by the Committee on Professional Training of the American Chemical Society. All full-time faculty hold Ph.D. degrees, with some having previously held positions in industrial laboratories. All are experienced, professional teachers. The research interests and backgrounds of the faculty are quite diverse, and cover the major areas of chemistry (analytical, biochemistry, inorganic, organic, physical, and theoretical) as well as some interdisciplinary areas (biochemistry/molecular biology, bioinorganic, environmental, surface and interfacial, and materials chemistries).

While the primary focus of the department is teaching, a vigorous research program has been established at the undergraduate level and the department has served as a National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (NSF-REU) site for three recent summers. Undergraduate research is available for upper division credit, and chemistry majors are encouraged to participate in one or more research projects at some time during their career either at JCU, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, or local universities or chemical industries.

The chemistry faculty are well known for their excellent teaching and availability to students. Students will often find that they learn as much in one-on-one sessions in faculty offices, and in the teaching and research laboratories as they do in the more traditional classroom setting.