Paul Gannon, Ph.D. is a Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Montana State University and Associate Director of the MSU Engineering Education Research Center. A Montana native, he earned both his B.S. (2002) and Ph.D. (2007) in Chemical Engineering from MSU. While trained as a materials scientist specializing in high-temperature energy processes and corrosion, Dr. Gannon’s most impactful current work lies in engineering education transformation. He is a national leader in advancing Indian Education for All (IEFA) within STEM, embedding Indigenous perspectives and ways of knowing into engineering curricula. His leadership on multiple NSF-funded projects, including Research Experience for Teachers (RET) - Culturally Responsive Energy Engineering Education in Rural/Reservation Elementary Schools and NSF DE-ICE Project (Diversifying Engineering via Identity-Congruent Education), has provided authentic research experiences for rural and reservation teachers, created culturally grounded classroom lessons, and engaged K– 12 students across Montana’s tribal schools.
Through innovative activities such digital game-based learning tied to Indigenous cultural practices and helping other instructors develop their own course-specific activities, Dr. Gannon demonstrates that technical rigor and cultural knowledge can complement one another to strengthen student identity, belonging, and pathways into engineering. His work has influenced dozens of educators, hundreds of Indigenous students, and many more indirectly, while also generating a growing body of scholarship on culturally responsive STEM education. At MSU, he continues to mentor undergraduate and graduate researchers, many from underrepresented backgrounds, while championing inclusive practices that reimagine the role of chemical engineers in society.