Dr. Michelle Furlong

Executive Director, Institutional Effectiveness and Accreditation

Office: James M. Baker University Center 223
Biology
College of Arts & Sciences
MichelleFurlong@clayton.edu
Phone: (678) 466-4778

Biography

Dr. Furlong started as an Assistant Professor of Biology at Clayton State University in August 2000. In 2005 she was promoted to Associate Professor and in 2011 she was promoted to Full Professor. She served as Department Chair of Natural Sciences (Biology, Chemistry and Physics) in 2006. During that time she dedicated her time to being an advocate for the science faculty who needed space to teach more labs and to conduct research. She assisted in the design and construction of 13 new teaching labs and 9 new research labs which are housed in two new buildings on the CSU campus. She also assisted in the planning for a building renovation that involved the design and construction of two new labs and the renovation of six existing labs. From 2014 to 2015 she lead the science faculty in a redesign of the department of Natural Sciences to become two separate departments: Chemistry & Physics and Biology. In 2019 she became the Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Her role in the dean's office was faculty affairs and budgets. In 2024 Dr. Furlong became the Executive Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Accreditation. She continues to serve in this role.

Education

BS, Biology, Georgia State University, 1995

Ph D, Microbiology, University of Georgia, 2000

Awards and Honors

Received a $12,000 assistantship for teaching accomplishments., University of Georgia Excellence in Teaching, Award, 1996

Intellectual Contributions

Susan E. Copeland, Michelle A. Furlong, Jill L Lane, "STEM-ming Out: The Growth and Challenges of Interdisciplinary Literacy in Higher Education"", The International Society for Exploring Teaching and Learning – Fall 2015

Susan E. Copeland, Michelle A. Furlong, Bram Boroson, A STE[A]M Approach to Teaching and Learning: The Science in Science Fiction, The International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Education –

Michelle A. Furlong, D. C. Coleman, W. B. Whitman, Bacteria associated with earthworms in agricultural soil, International Symposium on Microbial Ecology, International Symposium on Microbial Ecology – August 1998

Michelle A. Furlong, Caroline E. Sheppard, Renee E. McFarlane, Cross-Disciplinary Collaborative Laboratory Activities that Reinforce Chemistry Content Knowledge, MicrobeLibrary Curriculum Collection – September 2008

Stephen C. Burnett, Michelle A. Furlong, Paul Melvin, Richard Singiser, Games that Enlist Collective Intelligence to Solve Complex Scientific Problems, Journal of Microbiology and Biology Education – March 2016

Contracts, Grants, and Sponsored Research

Michelle A. Furlong, Susan F. Hornbuckle, Patricia M. Todebush, Improving Undergraduate Analytical Research Skills Using GC/MS throughout a Chemistry and Biology Curriculum, GOV-Department of Defense (DD), Federal, 75411.74, Funded – July 10 2007 to July 10 2008

Michelle Furlong, Learning Innovations that Foster Engagement, Complete College Georgia STEM Innovation, State, 25000, Funded – August 1 2015 to June 30 2016

Augustine Agyeman, Michelle A. Furlong, Regional Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Regional STEM Institute, State, 25000.00, Funded – Fall 2009 to Fall 2009

Paul Melvin, Ann M Showalter, Barbara E. Musolf, Diane Day, Julie E Morgan, Francine Norflus, Michelle A. Furlong, NSF-STEM CURE Mini-Grant Program, NSF, State, 4111.24, Funded – Spring 2017 to Spring 2019

Presentations

Michelle A. Furlong, Caroline Doty, William Ja Rivers, A Novel Method for Culturing Soil Bacteria, The American Society for Microbiology General Meeting, American Society for Microbiology – May 24 2007

Michelle A. Furlong, Caroline E. Sheppard, Cross-Disciplinary Collaborative Laboratory Activities that Reinforce Chemistry Content Knowledge, Fifteenth Annual American Society of Microbiology Conference for Undergraduate Educators, American Society for Microbiology – May 2008

John S Burningham, Michelle A. Furlong, Paul Melvin, Barbara E. Musolf, Ann M Showalter, BELIEVE: Biology Engaged Learning Initiative for Excellence and Valuable Experiences, Southeast Regional PULSE (SERP) Summer Institute, Southeast Regional PULSE (SERP) Summer Institute – May 2016

Ann M Showalter, Barbara E. Musolf, Michelle A. Furlong, Paul Melvin, Stephen C. Burnett, Indhira De La Rosa, Learning Assistants in CURE for Biology Gateway Courses, Georgia Gwinnett College STEM Symposium, Georgia Gwinnett College STEM Symposium – May 10 2019

Barbara E. Musolf, Ann M Showalter, Stephen C. Burnett, Michelle A. Furlong, Paul Melvin, The Ripples Produced by Early CURES, Southeast Regional PULSE (SERP) Summer Institute, Southeast Regional PULSE (SERP) Summer Institute – June 2017

Service to the Profession

Reviewer, Grant Proposal, United States Department of Agriculture 2005 to 2007

Teaching Interest

Introductory Biology, Introductory Microbiology, Microbiology for Allied Health, Microbial Ecology and Bioinformatics.

Research Interest

Soil Microbial Ecology