Dennis Kubasko Receives Outstanding Science Leadership Award

Dennis Kubasko has received the 2025 North Carolina Science Leadership Association’s Herman and Emma Gatling Award for Outstanding Science Education Leadership in North Carolina. The prestigious award recognizes service to science education at the district, regional, state levels and beyond. Dr. Kubasko is an associate professor of secondary science education at UNCW’s Watson College of Education and coordinator of WCE’s MAT in secondary education program.

The award was presented at the NCSLA Spring Summit in Cary on April 26.

“Dr. Kubasko’s unwavering dedication to the advancement of science education, mentorship of future educators, and leadership within professional science organizations including NSTA, NCSTA, NCSLA and the North Carolina Association for Biomedical Research’s Bridging the Gap STEM initiative, make him a truly outstanding nominee for this honor,” said Ann McClung, Science Coordinator, Center for STEM Education, East Carolina University. “It gives me great pleasure to announce that he is the winner of this year’s Gatling Award.”

Kubasko joined the faculty at UNCW in 2002. He served as director of UNCW’s Center for Education in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (CESTEM) from 2011 to 2018, and as director of the Southeast Regional Science Olympiad competition for eight years. Throughout his tenure at UNCW, he has taught numerous courses including Island Ecology for Educators, a summer program that has been bringing together education and environmental science undergraduate and graduate students for over a decade. He is also co-developer of a mobile app, Coastal Eco Explorer that promotes environmental knowledge for students and teachers.

Kubasko has been actively involved with numerous science organizations for more than two decades. He has served as a member of NSCLA’s board of directors since 2014, including a term as president in 2020.

 “I am truly humbled and honored by this award and recognition,” Kubasko said. “I am proud of the work we do here at the college and around the state and feel incredibly fortunate to have had the support of so many dedicated professionals. I’m excited for tomorrow, to continue to work for students access to STEM education, to support teachers who want to engage in effective leadership, and to nurture our network of NC science education leaders so they can advocate for what we know is good practice and needed.”

The North Carolina Science Leadership Association (NCSLA) provides opportunities for leaders in both formal and informal science education by offering a forum to exchange ideas and information, advancing quality STEM instruction and influencing education policies and education. NCSLA’s Outstanding Science Education Leadership Award was established in 1989 to honor Herman and Emma Gatling who were both outstanding and highly recognized North Carolina science educators and leaders.