Left to right: David Johnson, Edward Ginter, Kelly Kellerman, and David Keller (Photo by Lisa Hines)
The Chemistry Department celebrates four long-standing staff members who retired this spring: David Johnson, David Keller, Kelly Kellerman, and Edward Ginter.
At a May 27 luncheon, they were honored for their contributions and service to the department.
Their biographies appear below.
David Johnson
For David Johnson, being a university machinist was a uniquely exciting role. Unlike commercial manufacturing, where repetition is the norm, his job offered constant variety, creative freedom, and the chance to mentor the next generation of engineers.
He started his career at Yale in 1979 as a research and support specialist in the Gibbs Machine Shop, where he designed and fabricated custom scientific instruments and laboratory apparatus. He made components—from vacuum chambers to telescopes—supporting experiments in chemistry, physics, engineering, and astronomy.
In 1984, David moved to California. He returned to Yale to the same role in 1993.
In 2000, he became manager of the Chemistry Machine Shop and took on an instructor role. In CHEM 562L Laboratory in Instrument Design and the Mechanical Arts, he taught students and postdoctoral researchers how to use metalworking machinery to build scientific apparatus.
He also lectured for the Drama School, helping students fabricate prop and set components through DRAM 69A (Welding Technology) and DRAM 69B (Mechanical Instrumentation).
He enjoyed experiences beyond his official role. For five years, he worked evenings in the Art School’s sculpture program, helping students build projects. As caretaker for the Astronomy Department’s Bethany Observing Station for 20 years, he maintained the telescope and participated in public outreach shows.
One of his most memorable projects was supporting Team Lux during the 1997 Sunrayce, a nine-day, 1,230-mile intercollegiate solar car race from Indianapolis, Indiana, to Colorado Springs, Colorado. Thirty-five university teams raced vehicles powered solely by the sun. David traveled with Team Lux to troubleshoot any mechanical and engineering issues. They finished in ninth place.
David’s role let him blend academic research with hands-on craftsmanship across many fields while mentoring others along the way.
“I enjoyed making a difference in students’ lives, and many still keep in contact,” he said. “It is satisfying that I contributed to their time at Yale and passed on knowledge they are still using to this day.”
In retirement, he plans to fix up his house and explore the country.
David Keller
When David started working at Yale 50 years ago, he was excited to put his college degree to good use. His first job out of college was as a research assistant in the Department of Ophthalmology at the Medical School, where he conducted experiments for glaucoma research.
“I enjoyed doing the lab work and became close friends with my boss,” said David. “We spent many years going camping together and still keep in touch to this day.”
Next, he worked in the Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry with a new assistant professor studying protein transport. While there, he attended night school for four years to earn a master’s degree in computer science. He finished the program the same year his position ended.
One week after his last day, he returned to Yale as a computer programmer at the Center for Structural Biology, working as a Howard Hughes employee.
Although his title was computer programmer, David’s role quickly expanded. He was encouraged to be curious and learn the equipment hands-on. “That ignited a passion for fixing stuff and building new things,” he said. The core lab personnel were constantly modifying X-ray setups to provide customized components for its user base. That work resulted in several patents. David also maintained equipment, keeping them in optimal condition for postdoctoral researchers and students.
Later, when the Biophysics Center was folded into the Chemical and Biophysical Instrumentation Center, David came on board to manage the X-ray equipment.
“When I think back to all of the graduate students and postdocs that I have assisted through the years and look up what they are doing in their careers now,” said David, “I feel a sense of satisfaction in knowing that I gave them a hand in the early days of their careers.”
Kelly Kellerman
Most jobs sit in one lane. Kelly’s sat at a three-way intersection: the numbers of finance, the logistics of administration, and the inventory of the stockroom. For nearly four decades at Yale, she has managed these areas, ensuring the department’s mission is never compromised by a line item that doesn’t add up, a tangled process, or a missing order.
Kelly’s role reflects decades of learning through various roles. When she began working at Yale in 1987 as an office assistant at 333 Cedar Street, her work was practical and immediate: ID cards, keys, parking permits, and security protocols—small items that, taken together, make work possible.
She never really stopped doing that kind of work—only the scale changed. When she joined the Chemistry Department as a financial assistant in 1991, she brought with her a drive to understand systems and operational needs. A brief stint in an academic and facilities role helped broaden her understanding of the department’s challenges and goals. Over the years, her institutional knowledge and skills earned her several promotions and invitations to serve on committees, as well as participation in early testing and implementation of new financial systems and applications.
In her most recent role, she managed the Chemistry Stockroom and oversaw purchasing, accounts payable and receivable, facilities coordination, and departmental budgeting.
“While those responsibilities may sound straightforward on paper,” she said, “each area presented significant operational and financial challenges that required attention to detail, adaptability, and problem-solving skills.”
Over the years, she has saved the department money by identifying cost-saving opportunities, sourcing new suppliers, and negotiating contracts.
“I truly enjoyed the work and took pride in supporting the department’s operations and financial management,” Kelly said.
Looking back, she is proud of persevering through challenges and delivering excellent customer service to bright, talented researchers.
“I will miss everyone I have worked with over the years,” she said. “I especially want to thank the Chemistry staff team, who work incredibly hard and continually adapt to the university’s ever-changing policies and procedures. Without every one of you and your contributions, our department would not be what it is today.”
She added, “I also want to thank my daughter, Caley, for putting up with my crazy work schedule all these years. You have been an incredible source of support.”
You can find Kelly in her garden being entertained by her many animals, relaxing by the pool, or enjoying every minute with her grandson, Marcus, who arrives in early August.
Edward Ginter
A steady fixture in the Chemistry Department, Ed has held the same position since joining Yale 30 years ago. The department counted on him to lend a hand—literally and figuratively—well beyond carpentry, stepping in for everyday logistical needs, too.
As a research and development technician, he provided carpentry support to all of Yale’s faculty and researchers. Specifically, he designed and modified scientific instruments, components, equipment, and systems to help research come to life.
For Ed, no day was the same. One day, he might meet with a researcher to understand their experiments and sketch a plan for a custom lab setup. The next day, he might create inserts, spacers, or shims to eliminate vibration or improve alignment.
He quickly built a reputation. “When I first got here, I was making custom office desks for the professors, which was kind of cool. That was a lot of fun. They called them ‘Desks by Ed’ because Mark Johnson, apparently, when he was in a meeting, he wanted to know how to get a desk by Ed.”
In 2008, he participated in the Shared Services program, which enabled the rest of the university to use his work. After the program ended, he remained a resource for everyone.
One project Ed was especially proud of was for a professor in the Psychology Department, who wanted to see whether children could tolerate entering a magnetic resonance imaging scanner—a notoriously claustrophobic experience. Ed built a replica of the machine—everything except the magnet—with a platform that moved in and out.
“That was a highlight because I got to go to different departments and see what they test,” he said. “I have been able to meet all sorts of people from all over the world.”
This people-first outlook showed up in how Ed supported the department. He consistently jumped in to handle event logistics—big and small. Whether he was moving high-top tables down the hall or picking up the donuts on his drive to work, you could count on Ed.
“I come into work, and I’ll help anybody,” he said. “If I’m walking down the hall, and somebody’s trying to pick something up, I’ll give them a hand. I’ve always been that way.”
The doing won’t stop for Ed in retirement. He plans to tend to his “neglected” house— when he is not trout fishing in a small stream.