Arizona State University Associate Professor Tapped As UAA President

Dr. Mary Niemczyk of Arizona State University recently assumed the University Aviation Association’s (UAA) top elected position as president for 2014-15. As one of her first official duties, President Niemczyk announced the election of Dr. Suzanne Kearns to a one-year term as president elect and Dr. Samuel Pavel to a two-year term as treasurer. Members elected to three-year terms on the Board of Trustees include: Dr. John B. Bridewell and Dr. John R. Griffin, II as Educator trustees, and Capt. Michael McCasky as a Corporate trustee.

President Mary Niemczyk is an associate professor and chair of the Aviation programs at Arizona State University (ASU). Before joining the Aviation faculty in 2002, Dr. Niemczyk earned her Ph.D. in Learning & Instructional Technology at ASU. Her professional experience spans both the aviation and education environments. Aviation experience includes work as a financial manager at a major U.S. airline, and as co-founder of an aviation human performance research company. She has published two books that combine educational psychology and neuroscience research results to assist students in becoming more efficient, effective learners. Niemczyk is an FAA certificated pilot.

President Elect Suzanne Kearns is a tenured Associate Professor at Western University in London, Ontario, Canada where she has been teaching aviation students ‘Human Factors’ and ‘Aviation Safety’ and maintaining an active research program since 2004. Dr. Kearns is also a licensed airplane and helicopter pilot who holds degrees from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (DB 2000, 2002) and a Ph.D. in Education specializing in Instructional Design for Online Learning. Dr. Kearns is the author of two books, an introductory textbook titled “Canadian Aviation” and an industry monograph titled “e-Learning in Aviation.”

Treasurer Samuel Pavel is Assistant Professor at Southern Illinois University Carbondale in the Department of Aviation Management and Flight. Dr. Pavel has 13 years of experience as an Air Traffic Control Specialist in two VFR towers, a TRACON, and the Denver ARTCC. He earned his Doctorate in Economics from the University of Notre Dame and spent 15 years teaching a variety of graduate and undergraduate economic courses at Notre Dame, Denver University, Kalamazoo College, Western Michigan University, and Purdue North Central.

Trustee John B. Bridewell is Professor of Aviation at the University of North Dakota (UND). He has been a part of the University of North Dakota Aerospace aviation program since 1985, and a member of UAA since 1987. After 43 years in manned aviation, Dr. Bridewell engaged in the study of Unmanned Aircraft Systems and today provides innovative and practical concepts and suggestions for collegiate aviation institutions who wish to integrate a UAS option into their existing aviation programs.

Trustee John R. Griffin, II, has more than 35 years of experience in demanding civilian and military positions involving academic classroom and laboratory instruction, training development and analysis, resource planning and management, and education courseware development. Dr. Griffin has investigated and designed ways to enhance middle school and high school science and mathematics programs through the integration of aeronautical science and space programs with existing academic course materials. He is a member of the University of Oklahoma's "Troika Project" team, a consortium with Scott Foresman Publishing Company. The project assisted in the development of a three-level aerospace education program incorporated into middle and high school level science, mathematics, and English programs evaluated in the Texas and California school systems.

Trustee Michael McCaskey became the Managing Director of Flight Training for United Airlines in October of 2013 following a two-year assignment as Director of Flight Training Support. In each role, he has been an integral part of the merger of the legacy United and legacy Continental pilot training programs. Capt. McCaskey also managed the harmonization of policies and procedures between the Denver and Houston Flight Training Centers. Prior to his return to Flight Training, he was the Southwest Region Chief Pilot for Denver and Los Angeles, managing over 1,382 pilots. He became the Denver Chief Pilot in 2007, and assumed responsibility for the Southwest region the following year.

These newly elected officers and trustees join a distinguished 14-member governing board in charting the strategic direction of the Association.

FMI: www.uaa.aero