Michael Kessler, dean of the NDSU College of Engineering, has been named a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Election as a fellow is an honor bestowed upon association members by their peers.

Each year, the organization elects members whose efforts on behalf of the advancement of science, or its applications, are scientifically or socially distinguished. Kessler is being honored for his contributions to the understanding and development of “self-healing” composites and bio-renewable polymers.

Members can be considered for the rank of fellow if nominated by the steering groups of the association’s 24 sections, or by any three fellows who are current members or by the association’s chief executive officer.

Kessler joined the NDSU faculty in 2017. He previously was the Berry Family Director of the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at Washington State University. He also was the founding co-director of the Center for Bioplastics and Biocomposites, a National Science Foundation Industry and University Cooperative Research Center co-located at Washington State University and Iowa State University. He has more than 170 journal publications, holds nearly 20 patents and provisional patents and has edited 13 books.

Kessler earned his bachelor’s degree from LeTourneau University and his master’s degree and doctorate in theoretical and applied mechanics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

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