Neuroscience director receives distinguished professor award
Central Michigan University neuroscience program Director Gary Dunbar will receive the Michigan Distinguished Professor of the Year Award April 10. Dunbar is one of three to have received the 2015 award from the 15 State Universities of Michigan Presidents' Council.
"It was just an honor because there are so many great teachers at CMU," Dunbar said. "I've been around a long time and I've worked very hard, but there are so many equally-deserving professors here."
This award, which will be presented to Dunbar in at the Lansing Convention Center, recognizes educators who have demonstrated passion for student learning, interactions with undergraduates and experimental learning.
"I received two degrees (from CMU) and I've spent my entire career here, so it's a real thrill for me to represent CMU," Dunbar said. "It couldn't have happened without great colleagues and great students. The joy of my life is having so many wonderful students to work with. That makes this profession very special."
Dunbar first came back to teach in 1987 as an assistant professor of psychology, and has since built the neuroscience program into a nationally-recognized force in the field. CMU's program was awarded Undergraduate Neuroscience Program of the Year in 2013.
"Dunbar has been interested in undergraduate learning since the beginning," said neuroscience faculty Yannick Marchalant. "He chose the right path there. He helped provide (students) with an experience that can help determine the rest of their lives."
Graduate student Ryan Welchko, who has given dozens of presentations in his time at CMU as a student, considers Dunbar to be a mentor.
"He sees potential and then he just supports it, no matter what," Welchko said. "He builds this system where the undergrads are mentored by senior graduate students and graduate students are mentored by program instructors. This style of program had piqued interested of the Society for Neuroscience. We were number one in 2013 based upon his structuring of the program."
