ADA, Okla. – East Central University former faculty member, Dr. Nicholas Cheper, is set to be honored at ECU’s Evening of Honors and Recognition, May 1 at 6 p.m. in the ECU Foundation Hall, located inside the Chickasaw Business & Conference Center.
Born in Louisville, Ky., Cheper was raised there before moving to New York. He earned a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Biology from the University of Notre Dame in 1971, a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Ecology from the State University of New York at Stony Brook in 1974 and a Ph.D. in Zoology from the University of Tennessee in 1979
He spent one year teaching at Oklahoma State University before arriving at ECU in 1980 as one of the few professors at the university without a major degree from an Oklahoma institution. He remained at ECU for 35 years, retiring in 2015.
Throughout his career, Cheper taught General Biology and General Zoology, as well as Ecology, Limnology and Evolution. He was named chair of the Biology Department in 1996, a position he held until his retirement.
During his time at ECU, Cheper received favorable teaching evaluations, with students finding him knowledgeable and likable in the classroom. In return, he considered student success to be his greatest professional accomplishment, particularly the achievements of graduates in biology, pre-professional sciences, clinical laboratory sciences and biology teacher education programs.
Cheper is a published author and conducted research on the abundance and distribution of aquatic invertebrates in Oklahoma. He judged high school science papers for the Oklahoma Junior Academy of Sciences, in conjunction with the Oklahoma State Science and Engineering Fair, and served as director of the Oklahoma Collegiate Academy of Science for several years.
He served on numerous university committees, including two terms on the North Central Association Self-Study Steering Committee, and was twice selected as president of the Faculty Senate. He is a member of several organizations, including the Oklahoma Academy of Science and the Beta Beta Beta Biological Society.
In retirement, Cheper plays golf and has served on the Board of Directors at Oak Hills Golf and Country Club. He is also an AARP tax preparer, serving as the local coordinator for the Ada site and district coordinator for sites in southeast Oklahoma.
Cheper is married with one child, who holds a master’s degree from ECU, and three grandchildren.
To purchase tickets for ECU Evening of Honors and Recognition, visit tinyurl.com/9ckajkf7 or contact the Office of Alumni Relations at alumni@ecok.edu or at 580-559-5724. Advanced tickets are recommended.
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