Rate My Professor Debra Hemler

Debra Hemler serves as Interim Dean of the College of Science and Technology and Professor of Geoscience Education at Fairmont State University. She holds a B.S. in biology with a minor in environmental science from Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin; an M.S. in wildlife management from West Virginia University; and an Ed.D. in geoscience education from West Virginia University. Before joining Fairmont State University in 2000 as a professor, she taught earth science, chemistry, and biology for seven years in Preston County, West Virginia public schools and worked as a Visiting Assistant Professor at West Virginia University for three years. Since 2004, she has been a graduate faculty member at Fairmont State. Throughout her career, Hemler has taken on key leadership roles, including Chair of Natural Sciences, Science Education Coordinator in the Department of Biology-Chemistry-Geoscience, coordinator for science education programs, facilitator for NASA's Educator Resource Center, Director of the Earth & Space Science Passport Program, and Executive Director of the West Virginia Science Teachers Association. She has also served on the Faculty Senate and was nominated for the Suarez Professorship.

Hemler's academic interests center on geoscience education, teacher professional development, and climate change education, particularly in Appalachian contexts. Her publications include 'Teachers doing science: An authentic geology research experience for teachers' (Journal of Geoscience Education, 2006, with T. Repine), which has 46 citations; 'Investigating weather, climate, and climate change understanding of Appalachian middle-level students' (The Electronic Journal for Research in Science & Mathematics Education, 2021, with T.J. Cartwright and P.A. Magee); 'A case study for climate change teacher professional development in West Virginia' (The Journal of Sustainability Education, 2023, with K. Williamson, J. Shinn, and S.M. Fallon); 'Sustaining K-12 professional development in geology: Recurrent participation in RockCamp' (Journal of Geoscience Education, 2004, with T.E. Repine Jr. and R.E. Behling); and 'Reconstructing the Geologic Timeline' (The Science Teacher, 2002, with T. Repine). In recognition of her teaching excellence, she received the William A. Boram Teaching Award in 2012-2013, the university's most prestigious honor for faculty teaching achievements.