Wilson Named Director of FSU/NASA Space Grant Programs

Dr. Roger Wilson, Assistant Professor of Information Services at Fairmont State University, has been named Director of FSU/NASA Space Grant Programs, a position that was created to formally administer and foster the growing partnership with the NASA Space Grant and NASA IV & V.

Prior to coming to FSU in 2002, Wilson was employed as Senior Curriculum Developer at the National White Collar Crime Center and as a principal member of the technical staff at MICAH Systems Inc., where he managed the MICAH team that developed the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) training curriculum for Lockheed Martin/FBI at the FBI facility in Clarksburg.

Wilson received his Ph.D. in educational technology from The Union Institute in 1994 and his M.Ed. in curriculum and supervision from Wright State University in 1991. He also holds a B.A. degree in secondary math education from Cedarville College and a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from the General Motors Institute.

As Programs Director at FSU, Wilson will oversee the new NASA W.Va. Space Grant Scholars Program, the W.Va. NASA EPSCoR (Expanded Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) Research Program and the FSU/NASA Undergraduate Research Initiative, in which students help faculty conduct research.

The latest program, funded by NASA W.Va. EPSCoR, provides seed grants to promote research of interest to NASA in West Virginia. The program is designed to support faculty in their research activities, conduct pilot experiments or demonstrate new concepts that might lead to larger projects in the future. Grant awards are scheduled to be announced Oct. 24.

The NASA Space Grants Scholars program provides 15 students this year with research opportunities across the country and abroad. Funded by the NASA W.Va. Space Grant Consortium, this program involves students from a wide variety of disciplines including computer science, information systems and English.

"This program allows NASA IV&V to penetrate the community. When the students return, they share with the community the information they've collected and the experience they've gained. All of the programs are in keeping with Fairmont State's role as a university," Wilson said. "I enjoy starting new programs and growing with the evolution of each program I'e been involved in. It is working through each obstacle that gives one the sense of accomplishment."

Phillip Mason, Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies, recommended that Wilson be appointed to the director's position.

"Roger is the ideal person to assume the director's responsibilities because he brings dedication to the charge, commitment to undergraduate learning through research and relevant professional expertise," Mason said. "We are pleased that he has accepted this leadership role."