ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Michael J. Whitely, Ph.D.
Educational Psychologist
Dr. Michael Whitely’s area of expertise is the development of student academic success in the high school and university settings. He has been instructing students since 1997 in the disciplines of developmental education, educational psychology, and student leadership and development. Many students have succeeded under Dr. Whitely’s tutelage despite their own pre-conceived limitations entering into the college environment. Students often have limitations they set for themselves and at one point, Dr. Whitely was no exception. For Dr. Whitely, it was a childhood accident that ultimately lead him to his chosen career.
At
age 16 months, Michael fell down a flight of stairs, eventually resulting in
coordination, speech and cognitive deficiencies. Grade school teasing left
Michael feeling isolated in the classroom setting. Through the prompting of
his parents and a local psychologist, Michael enlisted in learning
experiences outside the classroom. Michael pursued sports to address his
coordination problems and music to overcome his speech handicap. Through
co-curricular activities, Michael gradually excelled, achieving notable
success in high school and earning local and national athletic, music and
leadership awards. Following his senior year, Michael was chosen to
represent the state of Ohio in the Mr. USA Teen Program and
received the coveted America’s Outstanding Names and Faces Award.
However, peer group banter persisted regarding his ‘intelligence’.
To test the waters of his academic
capabilities, Michael enrolled at a community college where he took a course
entitled Psychology of Effective Study. His self perception was
forever changed as he learned of Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligence (MI)
Theory. Through matching his strongest ‘intelligences’ with compatible
learning strategies, Michael was able to unleash his hidden academic
potential. He would go on to earn his associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree,
complete his graduate studies, get accepted into a post-graduate internship
at Yale University and was invited to work as an adjunct professor with the
education faculty at Kent State University. Yet his biggest academic
challenge was yet to come…
Committed to working with students in the area of learning and cognition, Michael applied for and was accepted into an Educational Psychology doctoral program. However, Michael was academically dismissed after receiving two consecutive “C’s” in the third year of the program. Undaunted, Michael began teaching Study Strategies for College Success as part of his adjunct responsibilities while taking advanced doctoral courses from neighboring universities. With a new-found passion for developmental education, Michael began to utilize these re-examined study skills, obtaining “A’s” for the same doctoral courses in which he had received “C’s”. But would this merit Michael being readmitted back into the doctoral program?
Going against protocol to be re-admitted into the Ph.D. program, Michael created an educational portfolio for committee review just one semester following his dismissal. After examination of his case, the committee wrote, “Dismissing Michael Whitely from our program would be a major travesty not only for him but for the field and for our program. He has accomplished as a graduate student much more than the typical student and received considerable external recognition and awards He is the kind of student that represents the epitome of our hopes for all students. It would be insensitive and irrational to dismiss a person of Mike Whitely’s caliber.”
Michael was reinstated into the doctoral program and his case remains the most expedient over-ruling of an academic dismissal in the history of the college. Michael graduated from his doctoral studies with a 3.7 GPA after designing and implementing student leadership programs domestically and abroad as part of his dissertation.
Dr. Whitely now empowers students as an educational psychologist, motivational speaker, and designer of co-curricular programs at Kent State University; garnering KSU a national experiential education award in 2007. His presentations have ranged from keynote addresses in the US and the UK to guest lectures at high schools and colleges in the United States. Through his high school and first-year college workshop Finding Your Way To an “A”, Dr. Whitely shares his secrets for academic success and overcoming educational obstacles. The presentation includes setting goals and managing your time, learning styles and learning strategies, improving learning and memory, active reading strategies, and getting ahead through online education and college preparatory courses.
The production incorporates large-screen visuals, contemporary live music, Dr. Whitely’s personal case study, and a mesmerizing presentation to help inspire students to pursue college and reach their full academic potential.
Download Dr. Michael Whitely's Curriculum Vitae