College of Education

Education

• Ph.D., Educational Psychology, Purdue University, 1990
• M.A., Educational Psychology, Purdue University, 1988
• B.A., Elementary Education, St. John’s University, 1976

Biography

Micheal Sayler, Ph.D., became the dean of the College of Education at Eastern Michigan University on June 1, 2015, joining a distinguished list of College leaders who have overseen one of the most highly-regarded teacher preparation institutions in the nation. Dr. Sayler has a strong history of educational leadership, having previously held the position of senior associate dean at University of North Texas (2011-15). Before becoming an associate dean in 2002, he also served as associate and assistant professor for 12 years. In 2013, Dr. Sayler was presented with the Outstanding Service Award for his mentorship and contributions to the McNair Scholars Program. With expertise in gifted education, Dr. Sayler also chaired the placement committee for the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science for many years, and served in leadership positions for several national and international gifted education organizations.

Dr. Sayler’s current community engagement efforts include the launch of the Pathways for Future Educators Program in 2016. The program establishes partnerships between the COE and urban and rural districts across Michigan and identifies students who aspire to return to their communities as teachers. In 2017, the State of Michigan recognized the recruitment initiative and awarded the COE with a Morris Hood Jr. Educator Development grant.

Trained in educational psychology, Dr. Sayler’s research interests have focused on gifted students and their emotional needs and well-being. More recently, he has conducted a large national study of associate deans. He has traveled to Australia many times to teach graduate courses in gifted education in Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth.

Dr. Sayler, a native of South Dakota, earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from St. John’s University in Collegeville, MN.

Selected Publications

• Sayler, M. F., Pederson, J. Smith M. C., and Cutright, M. (2017). Hidden leaders: Results of the national study of associate deans. Studies in Higher Education, 1-11.
• Sayler, M. (2015). Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science: 25 years of early college STEM opportunities. Roeper Review, 37, 29-38.
• Sayler, M., *Boazman, J., Natesan, P., & *Periathiruvadi, S. (2015). Subjective well-being of gifted American college students: An examination of the psychometric properties of the PWI-A. Gift Child Quarterly, 59, 236-248.
• *Boazman, J. K., & Sayler, M. F. (2014). Application of the personal wellbeing index (adult version) with gifted American college students. In: Michalos, A. C. (Ed.). Encyclopedia of Quality of Life and Well-Being Research. Springer, Dordrecht, Netherlands: Springer, pp 2436-2437. doi 10.1007/978-94-007-0753-5
• Sayler, M. F. (2014). Special schools for the gifted and talented. In F.A. Dixon and S.M. Moon (Eds.) The handbook of secondary gifted education (2nd ed., pp. 443-463). Waco, TX: Prufrock Press.
• Huey, E., Sayler, M. F., & Rinn, A. N. (2013). Effects of family functioning and parenting style on early entrants’ academic performance and program completion. Journal for the Education of the Gifted. 36, 418-431.
• *Maggio, M.R., & Sayler, M. (2013). Trying out acceleration for mathematically talented fifth graders. Gifted Child Today, 36, 20-26.
• *Boazman, J. K., Sayler, M. F., & Easton-Brooks, D. (2012). Mediating factors of personal wellbeing in gifted college students: Early-college entrants and honors college students. Journal of Social Research and Policy, 3, 111-131.
• *Boazman, J., & Sayler, M. (2011). Are they living the "good life?" Personal well-being of gifted students following participation in an early-college-entrance program. Roeper Review, 33, 76-85.
• Sayler, M. F. (2009). Gifted and thriving: A deeper understanding of the meaning of GT. In L. Shavinina, The International handbook on giftedness (Vol.1, pp. 215-230). Amsterdam: Springer Science & Business Media.

* Graduate students co-authors

Teaching

• Grades 3 and 4, University Lab School St. Joseph MN
• Grades 5-8, Progress Rural School, Meadow SD
• Grade 6, Sacred Heart Elementary, Aberdeen, SD
• Pre-K-9 gifted program, Aberdeen SD
• Educational Psychology and Gifted Education, Purdue University
• Gifted Education, and Special Education, University of North Texas
• Visiting professor, Gifted education, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth, AU

Research Interests

• Learning and motivation, social-emotional components of human development, personal thriving
• Gifted students: their education, role of parents, giftedness and thriving across the life span
• Leadership and administration in higher education

Selected Presentation

• Sayler, M. F. (2013, April). Preparing educators to be competent, effective, and happy. Keynote address at the 7th Srinakharinwirot Academic Conference “East-West Higher Education Experiences.” Srinakharinwirot University, Bangkok, Thailand (an invited presentation).
• Sayler, M. F. (2012, November). The roles and functions of spirituality among the gifted and talented. Paper presented at the annual conference of the National Association for Gifted Children, Denver, CO.
• Sayler, M. F. (2011, November). The roles and functions of friendships among the gifted and talented. Paper presented at the annual conference of the National Association for Gifted Children, New Orleans, LA.
• Sayler, M. F. (2011, January). The role and function of friendships among the gifted and talented. Invited day-long seminar. Given at the University of New South Wales, Sydney Australia (an invited presentation).

Professional Affiliations

• American Educational Research Association
• National Association of Gifted Children
• Phi Kappa Phi