The Science of Lifelong Learning: Honoring Dr. Mike McLeod
Dr. Abigail Cousino, Asst. Professor of Biology and Biochemistry
Anyone who has stepped foot into the William Gaston Science Building in the last 50 or so odd years has probably heard the ringing baritone of Dr. Michael (Mike) McLeod lecturing on Cell Biology… and trembled at the knees. Known for banging his fist down on the desk to snap his students back to attention, Dr. McLeod has been the gauntlet every biology student must survive to prove his or her mettle.
Dr. McLeod graduated with his Bachelor of Science in biology in 1969. He then served in the military from 1970-1974, during which time he also completed his Master of Science in biology. He then continued his education, earning his Ph.D. in zoology from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio in 1977.
Belmont Abbey College hired Dr. McLoed to help rebuild the Biology Department in 1978. Along with two of his colleagues, Betty Baker and Eunice Cronin, the three built the department from the ground up.
A career begins
Prof. McLeod made his way through the ranks, earning full professorship in 1986. While continuing to teach at the Abbey, he also served as an American Council on Education Fellow and Assistant to the Vice President for Academic Affairs at Winthrop College in Rock Hill, SC from 1987-1988. From 1988-1991 he was the Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs at Belmont Abbey, and in the summers of 1990 and 1992 he served as the Acting and Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs, respectively. In the summer of 1993, he served as the Interim VP of Student Affairs, and from 1991-1995 he was the Director of the Adult Degree Program as well as the Director of the Weekend College, both programs focused on continuing education for non-traditional students.
Continuing the impressive overlap of duties and responsibilities, from 1991-2001 he served as Associate VP for Academic Affairs and from 1995-2000 as the VP for Student Life and Dean of Students. Exemplifying his dedication to both science and education, McLeod has published over 20 first author papers and coauthored several more, publications which have been cited over 600 times on ResearchGate. His papers cover topics spanning from the early evolution of chili peppers to education at a Liberal Arts College to Pearl Harbor; his impressive breadth of knowledge and curiosity speaks to his role as an academic and a life-long learner.
Local service
Dr. McLeod is committed to community outreach and growth, serving on the Gaston County Urban Water Quality Committee (1996-1998), the Voices and Choices Regional Environmental Planning Committee (1999-2001), the Centrolina Council of Governments Catawba River Corridor Study Steering Committee (1994), the Dropout Prevention Task Force, and much more.
In 2009 he served on a panel for the North Carolina Health Professions Advisors Association, advising pre-medicine students. He has also presented to the Gaston County Community many times, discussing topics such as water supply protection legislation, environmental issues, energy, and peak oil.
Department leadership
Dr. McLeod has been awarded several grants for the development of math and science programs. Under McLeod’s leadership, the biology department received over $600,000 in grants, with the latest Cannon grants allowing for the renovation of the general biology lab in 2017 and 2019.
From 2006-2018 Dr. McLeod served as the Chair of the Department of Biology, and from 2002 to the present he has been the Director of the Environmental Science Program. From 2017- 2018 he also served as Chair of the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. He has earned many awards and honors, including the Adrian Faculty Excellence Award, which he received in both 2006 and 2021, and the Spirit of St. Benedict Award in 2008.
Joy of 50 years
Mike has been married to his wife Dianne for 53 years, and their daughter, Jessica, who earned her Ph.D. in anthropology, serves on the development staff at Westen Michigan University. He loves traveling and has been to all 7 continents and all 50 states. His latest adventure took him to Antarctica, where he got to practice his wildlife photography skills. He played the bagpipes for many years in Ceol na Gael Irish Pipe Band and acted in several Abbey Player performances, with his favorite role as Prince Escalus in Romeo and Juliet.
Dr. McLeod strives to offer rigorous courses to prepare students for graduate education or a job. He has been the soul of the department for many years, carrying on beloved traditions, such as Deck the Deer, Senior Night, Senior Brunch, and many more! He can often be found whistling or singing as he preps for labs, and he’s always ready to tell a story about past students or explain the citric acid cycle and the flow of blood through the heart. He cares deeply for the Abbey, the Biology Department, and most importantly, his students. The Abbey has been blessed to have such a great man and teacher dedicate 48 years of service to this community.
