MONMOUTH – Western Oregon University’s has announced the appointment of Stephen H. Scheck, Ph.D. as dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences beginning January 9, 2006.

Scheck comes to WOU from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, where he most recently served as acting dean of the Frank R. Seaver College of Science and Engineering. He was also the university’s associate dean for research, graduate studies and external initiatives and was a biology professor since 1982.

He has distinguished himself as a scholar and talented teacher with his position as the Kadner-Pitts chair in biological research in the College of Science and Engineering at LMU, as well as being the recipient of the Outstanding Educator Award in 2002.

“I want to continue to improve the work of Western’s very capable faculty, which emphasize individualized instruction and experiential learning opportunities. It is this kind of approach which will set our graduates apart from other graduates,” said Scheck. “The business community, graduate schools and professional schools are all begging for recruits who are intelligent thinkers, strong communicators, and appreciative of and adaptable to, the complexities of modern life.”

Scheck received an undergraduate degree in zoology, and a master’s in biology with an emphasis in ecology, from Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas. He earned his doctorate in zoology with an emphasis in environmental physiology from Iowa State University of Science and Technology in Ames, Iowa.

Prior to joining LMU, Scheck taught at Pepperdine University, was a research scientist at UCLA and a research fellow at NASA’s Ames Laboratory.

Scheck possesses a deep interest in interdisciplinary education, as demonstrated by his work on the role of the humanities in science education. Presently, his research is centered on the importance of cultural heritage in science education, in particular the Native American Indian and New Zealand Maori cultures.

An active member of eight professional associations, Scheck has received grants from numerous organizations, including the Keck Foundation, National Science Foundation and NASA. His research on diabetes therapy has been published widely. He has been actively involved in his community, providing expert commentary for Los Angeles media dealing with environmental health issues, speaking about “science and the consumer” at community organization events, and helping middle school students prepare science fair projects.

WOU Provost Jem Spectar said "we are very pleased that Dr. Scheck is joining us at this time. He brings to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences a fine record of accomplishment as a manager and an educator. I was particularly impressed by his commitment to promoting best practices in teaching and learning, interdisciplinary education and global competency."

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