EAST Board Member Receives National Recognition

EAST BOARD MEMBER RECEIVES NATIONAL RECOGNITION

K nown as a lover of science and education, Dr. Michael Gealt's nomination and acceptance as a Fellow of the world’s largest general science society, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) was no surprise. Described as deserving of this recognition from one nominator, Robert Peterson, Gealt is now a part of an organization that is not only known for esteemed members like Thomas Edison and Margaret Mead but for currently leading the conversation around science funding and policy, climate change, energy policies, STEM education, vaccines, and space exploration 1 .

“I am humbled to join the fellowship of such esteemed scientists, researchers, and academics whose work I admire,” Gealt said.

Gealt began his post-secondary academic journey at Temple University where he earned a BA in Biology. He completed the journey when he received a Ph.D. in Microbiology from Rutgers University but proudly states he has never stopped learning. After working as a researcher in the Pharmacology Department at Rutgers Medical School and at the Fox Chase Cancer Center (Philadelphia, PA), Gealt was given the opportunity to share his knowledge as an appointed faculty member in the Department of Bioscience & Biotechnology at Drexel University. He was later named the Director of the School of Environmental Science, Engineering and Policy at Drexel. Gealt’s other roles in academic leadership include Dean of the School of Engineering, Mathematics and Science at Purdue University Calumet (now Purdue University Northwest, Hammond, IN), Dean of the College of Science at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR, Little Rock, AR) and leader of the academic division of Central Michigan University (CMU) where he serves as the Executive Vice President & Provost (Mt. Pleasant, MI).

As the Dean of the College of Science at UALR, Gealt played an essential role in establishing the UTeach initiative; a program that originated at the University of Texas, Austin whose mission was to find an innovative way to recruit, train, and impact the lives and careers of aspiring educators in the STEM field. Preparing teachers to educate innovatively is one of Gealt's many passions. While working to establish UTeach, he learned of EAST from a colleague at UALR and cultivated a relationship of support for the principles and impact it garnered. During his time in Arkansas, Gealt was selected as chairmen of the Arkansas STEM Coalition and used the position to help foster the establishment of UTeach at several institutions in the state. Gealt’s academic interests and achievements, as well as his civic involvements, made him a great candidate to become a member of the EAST Board of Directors in 2011. As he approaches the completion of his eighth year of service with EAST, it is rewarding to see that his contributions to our sustainability and growth enhanced his resumé for membership to AAAS.

Gealt explained the work that supported his AAAS nomination was in the following areas:

• Supporting STEM education as former chair of the Arkansas STEM Coalition; working with the group that brought the UTeach program to Arkansas; as a board member of EAST; and in a group working with the Great Lakes Bay Regional Association to enhance STEM K-12 teaching in central Michigan.

• Biochemistry and genetic research on the fungus Aspergillus nidulans, particularly its developmental processes.

• Research on the transmission of genetically modified elements between bacteria in natural systems such as waste treatment facilities and soil, including understanding how genes migrate through populations to enhance natural processes such as biodegradation and bioremediation.

As Central Michigan University’s fourth AAAS fellow and current Provost, Dr. Michael Gealt is living out his philosophy of project-based, active learning in real-world settings. Gealt has expanded the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at CMU where current faculty members develop their skills to foster an interactive classroom and high-quality online programs. He supported the development of a partnership with the St. John’s School District (St. John’s, MI) through the CMU College of Education and Human Services to develop an agricultural-based program to teach STEM. Gealt has also been able to enhance research efforts by CMU faculty and students; while he was Provost, the university was reclassified to a Research 2 (High Research Activity) institution.“The best way to learn science is to do science,” he says. “We have to get away from the ‘sage on the stage mentality’ and let our students on every level get more involved when we teach. ”

Shortly after announcing his membership with AAAS, the 70-year-old father, scientist, educator, and motorcycle enthusiast announced his plan to retire in June of 2019. “Former EAST Board member, Jerry Damerow, told me that 70 was the new 40," says Gealt. It was with that mindset that Dr. Gealt shared with us his plans to do more research, of course, but when he is not learning, he will be riding his motorcycle across the United States, supporting his grandchildren (including the granddaughter who sings with the Pennsylvania Girls Choir), and traveling. He is especially looking forward to visiting countries below the equator.