WMU’s Mallinson Institute for Science Education names new director
A longtime Western Michigan University physics professor has been tapped to head the Mallinson Institute for Science Education.
Dr. Charles Henderson, professor of physics, who has held a joint appointment with MISE, will take over as its director effective July 1. He replaces Dr. Bill Cobern, who has served as director of MISE since 2003.
In his new role, Henderson will oversee the institute’s mission to advance knowledge through research and improve the teaching and learning of science, in and out of the classroom.
“Dr. Henderson is an internationally recognized scholar in science education and I am thrilled he has agreed to serve as the Mallinson Institute’s next leader,” said Dr. Carla Koretsky, College of Arts and Sciences dean. “The institute has forged an exceptional reputation under Dr. Cobern’s leadership, and Dr. Henderson is sure to be an outstanding new director.”
DR. CHARLES HENDERSON
Henderson joined the WMU faculty in 2002. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he is co-founder and co-director of the WMU Center for Research on Instructional Change in Postsecondary Education.
Henderson has been trained in and has experience in qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods educational research, including survey and instrument development. His research program focuses on understanding and promoting instructional change in higher education, with much activity aimed at improving the slow incorporation of research-based instructional reforms into college-level STEM courses.
Henderson’s work has been supported by more than $7 million in external grants, resulting in many publications. He is a Fulbright Scholar and a Fellow of the American Physical Society. Dr. Henderson is the senior editor for the journal Physical Review Physics Education Research and has served on two National Academy of Sciences Committees: Undergraduate Physics Education Research and Implementation, and Developing Indicators for Undergraduate STEM Education.
THE MALLINSON INSTITUE FOR SCIENCE EDUCATION
Graduate programs in science education were established at Western Michigan University in the early 1960s under the leadership of Dr. George G. Mallinson and other science educators. In 2002, the Science Education program was redesigned as a degree granting institute within the College of Arts and Sciences. It became the Mallinson Institute for Science Education in honor of Professor George G. and Jacqueline Mallinson, both of whom played significant roles in launching, sustaining and guiding the teaching, research and public service in science education locally, nationally and internationally.
Learn more about the Mallinson Institute for Science Education at wmich.edu/science.
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