Each week, Cleveland State University will profile new faculty members with a “getting to know you” feature called ProfTALK. Learn about your prof’s background, bona fides and how they contribute to the momentum of Engaged Learning. Then get behind the desk and learn a little more about what makes them tick. This week, we dig into everything from cybersecurity, to intensive care units and Medevac teams with two of our faculty foodies! By now, you’ve figured out that Engaged Learning starts with profs who continue to be hungry (literally and figuratively) for learning themselves! Meet Smita Gallagher, DNP, MSN, RN and Charles McElroy, Ph.D.!

School of Nursing Clinical Assistant Professor Smita Gallagher, DNP, MSN, RN

Doctor of Nursing Practice, Chamberlain College of Nursing, 2018

M.S., Nursing Education, Walden University, 2013

B.S., Nursing, Walden University, 2011

A.S., Applied Sciences, Excelsior University, 2009

Dr. Gallagher has a wide range of experiences to draw upon in her role as Clinical Assistant Professor, not the least of which is as a U.S. Army veteran decorated with a Good Conduct Medal Award. Her specialty area at that point was Thoracic and Medical Intensive Care Unit. Dr. Gallagher is a two-time alumnus of Walden University, a private university located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She taught everything from Capstone, Community Based Nursing and Evidence Based Practice, to Transition to Care, Lifespan and Intro to Nursing. Dr. Gallagher has served in intensive care units and as a staff development nurse; as Assistant Director of Nursing for Embassy Health Care, and as Case Manager/Assessment RN for the Saber Healthcare Group.

What three words come to mind when you think of Cleveland State University?

As a new full-time tenured faculty member, the words “Organized, Cultural Diversity, and Resources” describes CSU well.  

What is a common question you get from CSU students?

After teaching only 1/2 a session, the most common question was regarding COVID policy and mask-wearing policies.

What do you like most about teaching and why?

My students and their thirst for knowledge!

What do you like to do in your spare time?

Spending time with family and friends. Wine tasting, volunteering at an animal shelter, and just chilling—indoors or out. 

Where is your favorite place in Cleveland and why?

The restaurants because I love to eat and experiment different foods and locations, including my tailgating foods.

What is a “fun fact” about you that many people may not know about you?

I belong to a roller coaster club!

What is your personal motto/mantra/axiom?

“The life you want is on the other side of the things you don’t want to do.”

Monte Ahuja School of Business Assistant Professor of Information Systems Charles McElroy, Ph.D.

Ph.D., Information Systems, Case Western Reserve University, 2017

M.A., National Security Studies/Environmental Science, University of Pennsylvania, 2014

M.A., Communications Management, John Carroll University, 2010

M.A., Ethics, Washington Theological Union, 1993

B.A., Philosophy & Classical Languages, Borromeo College of Ohio, 1987

Upon his graduation from Case Western Reserve University, Dr. McElroy won a national competition sponsored by the Office for the Director of National Intelligence and pursued PostDoctoral research at the California Institute of Technology (Center for Data Driven Discovery) studying how to identify, assess and mitigate bias in big data research. He subsequently won a Fulbright Fellowship to conduct research in Cybersecurity at Oxford University, UK. After this fellowship, he was invited back to Caltech to continue cutting-edge research for various Federal Sponsors. In 2019, he won the ODNI Design competition in the area of truth assessment. Two years later, he led a CSU team to a co-win of the Dean’s Corner Stone Challenge. Dr. McElroy’s research is currently focused on Data Science, Machine Learning and immersive data visualizations.

What three words come to mind when you think of Cleveland State University?

Family, Striving, Diversity.

What is a common question you get from CSU students?

“What certification should I pursue in IT?”

What do you like most about teaching and why?

I like assisting students in achieving their potential, and I enjoy helping them to exceed their own expectations of themselves.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I enjoy travel, getting together with friends and working out in CSU’s beautiful gym.

Where is your favorite place in Cleveland and why?

Warehouse District Restaurants, I can go to meet my friends there and have a great dinner.

What is a “fun fact” about you that many people may not know about you?

I am currently preparing to get recertified as an EMT, so that I can do an internship on a Medevac helicopter team.

What is your personal motto/mantra/axiom?

“Adapt, Overcome and Conquer!”