Last modified: Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Charles P. Gallmeier
Professor of Sociology
Department of Sociology and Anthropology
College of Arts and Sciences
Indiana University Northwest
Appointed to IU faculty, 1991
B.A., Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, 1976
M.A., University of California, San Diego, 1980
Ph.D., University of California, San Diego, 1985
"Whenever I need to find a faculty member to work on a project, speak with a student group, or serve on a committee, I immediately think, 'Chuck would be perfect for that!' Then I remember he's on 20 other committees, and I need to save him for the most important tasks." --Mark S. Hoyert, College of Arts and Sciences Dean and Professor of Psychology, IU Northwest
"Chuck Gallmeier has a vision of the university from a holistic perspective, [of bringing about] fundamental change in the way students are educated, faculty engage in their scholarship, and the persistent improvements that can be institutionalized," writes IU Northwest's Interim Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs David J. Malik.
Since Gallmeier's arrival at IU Northwest nearly 20 years ago, he has represented exemplary service. His work stretches beyond Indiana University, reaching out into the northwest Indiana community and the field of sociology. He has served as a member of countless committees and boards at IU Northwest, including the IU Northwest Council, the IU Northwest Budgetary Analysis Committee, and the IU Northwest Academic Core Group.
Gallmeier's expansive credentials related to service amount to much more than just a laundry list of organizations and positions. His work influences the lives of his colleagues in real ways, and his current role as president of the IU Northwest Faculty Organization has helped to improve the professional climate at the Gary campus.
"He listens to both sides of every issue, values the input of all constituents, and is a model for respectful interaction on campus," notes Cynthia O'Dell, associate executive vice chancellor for academic affairs and academic support at IU Northwest.
While Gallmeier is heralded by many of his colleagues as a model faculty member, he has always been eager to return praise, writing numerous letters of support, recommendation, and nomination for his peers in academia over the years.
"When faculty members ask him to observe their classes [as they seek] promotion and tenure on the Northwest campus, they never hear 'no,'" writes Professor of Communication Dorothy W. Ige. "He has willingly observed most of the faculty who apply for promotion and tenure. When asked about this very time-consuming and selfless act of observation and letter-writing evaluation, he indicates 'this is what you do for your colleagues.'"
Gallmeier's fellow faculty members aren't the only ones who never hear 'no' from him. "Gallmeier's service moves beyond the academic community into the external, regional community," Ige writes. "He has worked to help reduce gang violence in neighboring Chicago (which could spill over into northwest Indiana). I have personally heard Gallmeier share his expertise by presenting at education meetings in Gary, Indiana, to help city schools succeed."
Gallmeier's work inside the classroom as a sociology professor is also highly regarded. A former student comments that Gallmeier's class was like "coming to a new movie every day." His dynamic instruction style has earned him the President's Award for teaching excellence, the IU Northwest Founders Day Award, three Teaching Excellence Recognition (TERA) Awards, and the Faculty Colloquium on Excellence in Teaching (FACET) Award.
In addition to his campus and regional service endeavors, Gallmeier has contributed his talents to more than 40 sociology research conferences in the capacities of organizer, moderator, and discussant. He has also worked as an editor of numerous sociology publications.
"Chuck Gallmeier deserves this honor for everything he does that is not part of his job," writes Professor of Labor Studies Ruth Needleman. "He carries out his responsibilities with care and concern, but it is the additional effort, hours, and work that he puts into making sure that the outcomes are worthy of the university that make him stand apart from others."
