Falcetta Named GCC’s Professor of the Year
GROVE CITY, Pa. – Michael F. Falcetta was honored April 24 as Grove City College’s professor of the year.
Falcetta, a professor of chemistry, was selected by the college’s chapter of Omicron Delta Kappa, a national leadership honorary that recognizes scholarship, leadership, and citizenship based on nominations from students.
“Dr. Falcetta’s passion for his field is very evident in his teaching. He does an excellent job of making a difficult subject engaging and approachable to his students. He also takes time to get to know his students and displays genuine care for them and their well-being,” one student wrote.
Falcetta joined the faculty in 2003 and has taught general chemistry, physical chemistry, molecular modeling, and other courses over the years. He has also served as an adviser to a number of student organizations, most recently Phi Omega Sigma, the “Possums” men’s housing group.
While his favorite part of teaching is the students, Falcetta also indicated that his colleagues are “a tremendous blessing” and valued interdepartmental and interdisciplinary collaborators.
An expert in physical chemistry, Falcetta is an active researcher who publishes regularly with his Grove City College collaborator Dr. Mark Fair in leading journals, including The Journal of Physical Chemistry, and speaks at scientific meetings and conferences.
At Grove City College, he regularly supervises student research, providing students with the opportunity to collaborate on his projects. Falcetta “makes sure his research students truly understand the science behind what they are completing and not just how to carry out processes,” a student research assistant said.
Originally from Commack, N.Y., Falcetta earned a B.S. in chemistry with a minor in mathematics from SUNY College at Oswego, N.Y., and a Ph.D. in physical chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh. He has also completed graduate work toward a master’s degree in New Testament Studies from Alliance Theological Seminary.
Falcetta lives in Grove City with his wife, Esther. They have a daughter, Tessa.
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