Michele Wheatly Advances to WVU

Michele G. Wheatly, Ph.D., vacated her role as Wright State University Dean of the College of Science and Mathematics and LEADER Consortium director and started her New Year as Provost at West Virginia University.

To the LEADER Consortium Leadership Team, Michele’s departure was, to say the least, bittersweet. While it is the Consortium’s mission to increase the participation and advancement of STEM women faculty among its partner institutions, advancing one of its own outside of the Consortium was never part of the equation.

Michele came to Wright State in 1994 when she was hired as the first woman chair of the Department of Biology. In 2002, she became the first woman dean of the College of Science and Mathematics and for years thereafter continually gained strong recognition for her leadership and action such that she was inducted into the Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame in 2008. Later that year, Michele was also chosen as one of Dayton Daily News’ Ten Top Women. Known throughout the region for her advocacy for women in STEM and for students with disabilities, Michele always seized opportunities to talk about one or the other, or both. Furthermore, it wouldn’t take folks long to recognize that she was not only an eloquent speaker, but a powerful one in that she could move audiences to see that she wasn’t  one to simply talk the talk, but actually walk the walk.

Beginning in the late summer of 2008, Michele also started making research funding news when she won two back-to-back National Science Foundation (NSF) grants, totaling $6M, and yet another grant in early 2009 for a total of $9M within one year. In addition to the NSF ADVANCE grant that supports LEADER, Michele won a second NSF grant and a state of Ohio grant for programs that support students with disabilities.

Michele’s farewell reception in December was attended by over 200 guests in the atrium of Wright State’s Student Union. A line-up of speakers from WSU and the Dayton community paid tribute to Michele, often sharing fond memories of how they, like us on the LEADER team, came to know her as a “true champion and leader.” We will miss you, Michele.