Dr. Gerry Meisels
Director,
Coalition for Science Literacy
Professor of Chemistry,
University of South Florida

Dr. Gerry G. Meisels is the founding director of the Coalition for Science Literacy at the University of South Florida.  Until 1994, he served as USF's Provost and Chief Operating Officer.  From 1982 to 1988 he was dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, and chair of the Department of Chemistry from 1975 to 1982.  He was on the faculty of the University of Houston from 1965 to 1975, the last three years as department chair.  Meisels began his professional career as a chemist and group leader in industry, working for Gulf Oil Corporation and Union Carbide Corporation.

Since 1994 Meisels has led projects to improve science and mathematics education,  and advocated for systemic, large-scale change.  He has secured $13,500,000 in grants from NSF, US DOE, and the Florida DOE. He co-led a statewide professional development program for elementary school teachers.  Projects led by Dr. Meisels also include marketing science and mathematics teaching to professionals, induction, and research on teacher resignations that revealed that personal factors such as family concerns were more importantiin teachers’ decisions to leave the profession than previously believed. 

Dr. Meisels led the formation of the statewide Coalition for Improving Mathematics and Science Education (CIMS) and has served as its chair since its inception in 1999.  He organized two statewide Summits on Mathematics and Science Education in 2005; these led to 2006 legislation that establishes and funds a Florida Center for Mathematics and Science Education Research.

Dr. Meisels' CV

Dr. Robert Potter
Associate Director,
Coalition for Science Literacy
Associate Dean, College of Arts & Sciences Professor of Chemistry University of South Florida

Dr. Robert Potter is a Professor of Chemistry and has been the Associate Director of the Coalition for Science Literacy (CSL) at the University of South Florida (USF) since 2000.  He served as interim chair of the Chemistry Department 1998-99. He currently chairs the USF General Education Council as it oversees the implementation of a new general education program that he helped develop which is focused on critical thinking and inquiry . Potter received his Ph.D from the University of California at San Diego in biochemistry in 1979 and did postdoctoral work at the University of Wyoming where he served as non-tenure track assistant professor for two years before coming to USF in 1984.

Working with CSL since 1995, Dr. Potter has been increasingly involved in projects to improve science and mathematics education, and has advocated for systemic, large-scale change at universities and in the K-12 sector. While at CSL (the past 6 years as Associate Director) he has helped secure over $10 million in grants from NSF, US DOE, and the Florida DOE.  Projects include leading the development of curriculum and materials for “Science That Matters” I & II, a national science standards-based interdisciplinary science course sequence for pre-service elementary and middle school teachers. He has taught the program for the past 6 years at USF.

Other CSL projects include marketing mathematics and science teaching to professionals, teacher induction, and research on teacher resignations. Dr. Potter has been directly involved in both the planning and execution of these projects, especially faculty-led professional development.

Dr.Potter is a member of a statewide Coalition for Improving Mathematics and Science Education and serves on its board of directors.  He helped organize statewide Summits on Mathematics and Science Education in 2005; these led to 2006 legislation that establishes and funds a Florida Center for Mathematics and Science Education Research.

Dr. Potter's CV

Ms. Sandi Schlichting
Assistant Director, Coalition for Science Literacy
Ms. Schlichting's CV

Ms. Samantha Fowler
Data Analyst, Coalition for Science Literacy
Ms. Fowler's CV

Ms. Alison Goins
Administrative Assistant, Coalition for Science Literacy

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