David Van Wylen is a principal in the Office of Possibilities. He began working at Hope in July 2015 as the dean of Natural and Applied Sciences, a role he continued until November 2020.

Areas of expertise

David’s previous research interests include cardiac physiology and neurobiology. He has published more than 50 articles in refereed academic journals and made presentations related to his research at multiple professional conferences across the United States and abroad. He has also published/presented on his experiences with program and space design and currently teaches and speaks about his recent interest in water-related issues.

Education

• Ph.D., physiology, University of Michigan, 1983
• B.A., biology, St. Olaf College, 1980

Honors, grants and awards

• The Elle & Kaare Nygaard Foundation Grant ($200,000), 2007–2010; Biomedical and Artistic Features in the New St. Olaf College Science Complex, St. Olaf College
• Howard Hughes Medical Institute Grant ($1,400,000), 2004–2008; Project Director, Undergraduate Biological Sciences, St. Olaf College
• NIH AREA Grant ($90,000), 2002–2005; Principal Investigator, Protection with Adenosine A1 Receptor Overexpression, St. Olaf College
• Howard Hughes Medical Institute Grant ($700,000), 2000–2004; Project Director, Undergraduate Biological Sciences, St. Olaf College
• NIH AREA Grant ($70,000), 1999–2000; Principal Investigator, Metabolic Adaptations to Myocardial Ischemia, St. Olaf College
• Howard Hughes Medical Institute Grant ($1,300,000), 1996–2001; Project Director, Undergraduate Biological Sciences, St. Olaf College
• NIH RO1 Grant ($598,399), 1994–1999; Principal Investigator, Preconditioning, ISF Adenosine, and Cardioprotection, SUNY–Buffalo and St. Olaf College
• American Heart Association Established Investigator Award ($334,750), 1993–1998; Principal Investigator, SUNY–Buffalo and St. Olaf College
• NIH RO1 Grant ($270,000), 1991–1994; Principal Investigator, Cardiac Microdialysis, Adenosine, and Cardiac Function, SUNY–Buffalo
• NIH FIRST Award ($348,415), 1988–1993; Principal Investigator; The Role of Adenosine in Cerebral Blood Flow Regulation, SUNY–Buffalo

Select publications

• “Are ‘new building’ learning gains sustainable? Revisiting our goals after five years,” Journal of College Science Teaching, 2015
• "Tiered classrooms at St. Olaf College: Faculty and student perceptions of three different designs," Journal of Learning Spaces, 2013
• "Interdisciplinarity: The right people, a supportive place, and a program emerges," CBE—Life Sciences Education, 2013
• "Connectedness by design: the teaching laboratories in St. Olaf College’s Regents Hall of Natural and Mathematical Sciences," Journal of College Science Teaching, 2011
• "Facilities planning for the neuroscience curriculum at a primarily undergraduate institution: St. Olaf College’s Regents Hall of Natural and Mathematical Sciences," Journal of Undergraduate Neuroscience Education, 2009

Outside the college

Dave and his wife, Pat, live in Holland and have three grown children.