Dr. Wendell G. Mohling

Dr. Wendell G. Mohling, Vienna, Va., died Aug. 17 at Inova Fairfax Hospital in Fairfax, Va., due to complications from a stroke. The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) mourns the loss of Dr. Mohling, who served as the association's president from 1992-1993 and had been NSTA's associate executive director for professional programs since 1993. He was a former Shawnee Mission Northwest biology and student naturalist teacher and director of the Outdoor Laboratory.

"This is a great loss for NSTA and for the entire science education community," said Gerry Wheeler, NSTA executive director. "Wendell was a passionate, enthusiastic and dedicated science educator and was a great ambassador for the profession. His leadership and expertise helped to unify and strengthen the association and to grow it into what it is today. He will be deeply missed."

Dr. Mohling began his 30-year teaching career as a biology and general science teacher in Scribner and then taught in Shawnee Mission. He also was an environmental education curriculum specialist, director of Shawnee Mission Northwest High School's Outdoor Laboratory and Greenhouse Program and a continuing education teacher.

Dr. Mohling was an early and eager champion of aerospace education. In 1985, he received national attention when he was selected as the Kansas state designee in the NASA Teacher in Space Program and named a NASA space ambassador by the agency's administrator. Moved strongly by the loss of fellow science teacher Christa McAuliffe in the space shuttle Challenger disaster, he became a regional coordinator for and national faculty member of the Challenger Center for Space Science Education and teacher liaison with the National Space Youth Congress. Dr. Mohling also played a leadership role in Space Day, an educational initiative that aims to promote science, math, technology and engineering education.

Dr. Mohling was very committed to and active in the NSTA organization. During his term as NSTA president, he focused his efforts on encouraging members to be actively involved in the association and its mission. He established a vast network of science teachers who worked to further the profession and support NSTA. He also served as director of the high school division on the NSTA Board of Directors during 1988-1990 and chairman of the 1990 area convention in Kansas City. He worked on numerous NSTA committees and task forces, including the Awards and Recognition Committee, the Committee on High School Science Teaching, the Strategic Planning Committee, the Research for the Classroom Teacher Committee, and the Scope, Sequence and Coordination Planning Committee.

In 1993, Dr. Mohling joined the NSTA staff as associate executive director of membership, conventions and professional programs. In this role he oversaw the planning of all area and national conventions and was charged with strengthening NSTA membership and developing professional programs to meet the changing needs of all science educators. A highlight of his NSTA career was his management of NSTA's professional programs with NASA. He built a strong partnership with NASA, which resulted in the successful development and administration of many NASA education programs, including the NASA Student Involvement Program, the NASA Educator Workshops, the Space Science Education and Public Outreach Program and the NASA Explorer Schools program.

"Wendell was an outstanding science education leader and a valued member of the NASA education family," said Frank Owens, NSTA's visiting associate executive director, who is on loan from NASA. "He was a man of great influence, integrity and compassion. His impact on aerospace education will be lasting."

Dr. Mohling was instrumental in developing the National Science Education Standards as a member of the National Committee on Science Education Standards and Assessment. He received many awards in recognition of his lifelong service to science education, including the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching in 1983, the first year the award was given, and the first Christa McAuliffe Fellowship in Kansas in 1987-1988. He also received the Outstanding Biology Teacher Award for Kansas from the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT) in 1977, the Conservation Educator of the Year Award from the Kansas Wildlife Federation in 1980, and the Outstanding Conservation Teacher Award from the Burroughs Audubon Society in 1982. Dr. Mohling was active in a number of education organizations, including NABT; the Kansas Association of Teachers of Science, where he also served as president; the Kansas Association of Biology Teachers; the Greater Kansas City Science Teachers Association and the Air Force Association Aerospace Foundation.

Dr. Mohling was an active participant on many other boards and advisory boards related to education, conservation, space education and exploration, wilderness protection and specifically protection of Alaska wild lands.

Dr. Mohling earned a Bachelor's Degree in science education in 1964 from Peru State College in Peru, a Master's Degree in natural science from the University of Oklahoma in 1968 and a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction from the University of Kansas in 1993.

Dr. Mohling leaves behind loving family members, including his wife, Carol K. (Hohbein) Mohling of Vienna; daughter, Maria Alatna Mohling of Lawrence, Kan.; three sisters, Letha Morfeld of LaCrosse, Wis., Celesta Armknecht of Lincoln and LaRue Cole of Lincoln; one brother, Lynn Mohling of Glen-wood, Iowa. Dr. Mohling was preceded in death by his parents, Edwin and Emilie Mohling of Fairbury; and his sister, Joyce Earnhart of Liberty.

Services:A celebration of Wendell's legacy will be 1 p.m. Thursday at the Southminster Presbyterian Church, 63rd and Roe streets in Prairie Village, Kan. Burial will follow at Resurrection Cemetery in Lenexa, Kan.

Visitation: 6-9 p.m. Wednesday, Amos Family Chapel, Shawnee, Kan. Memorials: Wendell Mohling Memorial Fund, 2353 Hunter Mill Road, Vienna, VA 22181, c/o Carol Mohling. Funds will be dispersed to reflect Wendell's special interests and charities. NSTA has established a tribute page to Dr. Mohling where friends and colleagues can share memories and express condolences at science.nsta.org/wendell_mohling.