Repost from UNCG Now
A recognized leader in nanoscience and materials chemistry research and STEM education has been selected to lead the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering (JSNN), a prestigious academic collaboration between UNC Greensboro and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (N.C. A&T).
Sherine O. Obare, PhD, currently the associate vice president for research and a professor of chemistry at Western Michigan University, will become the school’s second permanent dean, succeeding founding Dean James Ryan, who stepped down over the summer. Obare will begin in her new role on Jan. 14, 2019. Obare will also serve as a tenured professor of nanoscience at UNCG.
“There is tremendous opportunity for innovation at the JSNN, and Dr. Obare brings the academic experience, research expertise, and creative vision required to help our universities and our region maximize the potential of this unique School,” said UNC Greensboro Provost Dr. Dana Dunn.
“JSNN offers innovative, cross-disciplinary graduate programs, and Dr. Obare’s experience in research gives her the knowledge to continue our growth in education and research excellence,” said N.C. A&T Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Beryl McEwen.
Obare has established an internationally recognized and externally funded research program that has fostered successful collaborations in chemistry and environmental engineering globally. She has received many awards and accomplishments including the National Science Foundation CAREER award, the Mary McLeod Bethune Award for Science and Technology, and the American Competitiveness and Innovation Fellowship of the National Science Foundation. She has also been named one of the top 25 women professors in the state of Michigan by Online Schools Michigan. Her research work lies in the area of designing nanoscale materials for drug delivery, environmental remediation, improved healthcare, alternative energy, and in developing strategies to improve STEM education.
In addition to her work as associate vice president for research, Obare serves as a research leader fellow at the American Public and Land-Grant University Council on Research. She’s served previously as associate chair of chemistry and graduate advisor at Western Michigan.
She earned her BS in chemistry with a minor in biology from West Virginia State University and her PhD in inorganic/analytical chemistry from University of South Carolina. Her postdoctoral education in chemistry and environmental engineering was completed at Johns Hopkins University.
