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Bio

Dr. Wim Steelant’s academic training began with the award of a Bachelor degree in Analytical Chemistry (1992) from St. Lieven College (Ghent, Belgium) followed by a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering (1993) from West-Brabant College (Etten-Leur, The Netherlands). He obtained his Ph.D. in Biology (Biomedical-Biochemical research/Cancer Research) from the University of Amsterdam (The Netherlands) in 2000 and completed a postdoctoral training at the University of Washington, Department of Pathobiology and the Pacific Northwest Research Institute.

Over the last 24 years, he has gained experience with progressively increasing levels of responsibility in higher education leadership roles. In 2002, he accepted a tenure-track position at New Mexico Tech in the Department of Chemistry with dual emphases on teaching and the creation of a Biochemical and Biomedical research facility. Dr. Steelant obtained tenure and promotion at New Mexico Tech to Associate Professor in Chemistry in 2008. After serving three years as the Chemistry Department Chair at New Mexico Tech, he became (Founding) Dean of the School of Science at St. Thomas University in Miami, Florida as a result of a recruiting effort through Witt/Kieffer. In addition, Dr. Steelant accepted the position of Founding VP for Research (2014) at St. Thomas and established the Office of Sponsored Research while supporting and developing the University’s plan to pursue more extramural funding.

 In 2016, he transitioned to a state university (Youngstown State University; YSU) where he now serves as Dean of the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Associate Provost for Workforce Education and Innovation (2024). The STEM College in its current and rapidly expanding form occupies 11 buildings, 4 geographical locations and is home to the Workforce unit, 5 academic units with 120 tenure-track or tenured faculty, 150 part-time faculty serving a total of 3,000 students.