Paul R. Geisler
Paul R. Geisler serves as Dean of the Feinstein School of Social and Natural Sciences at Roger Williams University, bringing more than three decades of experience spanning higher education, clinical practice, scholarship, and organizational leadership. A collaborative, student-centered leader, he champions undergraduate research, interdisciplinary learning, and meaningful connections between academic inquiry and real-world challenges. His leadership emphasizes a connected academic community where excellent teaching, engaged scholarship, and a genuine sense of belonging reinforce one another—and where students, faculty, and staff are supported in becoming who they aspire to be.
Before joining RWU, Geisler served as Dean and Professor in the School of Sciences and Health Professions at Simmons University. His academic career also includes more than two decades directing athletic training education programs at Ithaca College, where he earned tenure and the rank of professor, and Georgia Southern University. Across these institutions, he has advanced curriculum innovation, faculty development, accreditation, strategic partnerships, and student success, with particular attention to creating rigorous, inclusive, and meaningful educational experiences.
Geisler’s perspective on education is grounded in a 36-year career as a certified athletic trainer, encompassing secondary-school and collegiate athletics, clinical sports medicine, professional football, corporate leadership, and entrepreneurship. His experience includes national leadership of HealthSouth’s Sport Program, business ownership and the founding of KineticGolf™, and volunteer athletic training service at the 1994 World Cup and the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. Now retired from athletic training practice, he brings this breadth of experience to his work preparing students to think critically, collaborate effectively, and respond thoughtfully to unfamiliar challenges.
His scholarship explores how learners develop sound clinical judgment and adaptive expertise—the ability to apply knowledge thoughtfully and flexibly in new situations. He has contributed more than 170 national and international publications and presentations addressing athletic training practice, professional development, and health professions education. His educational interests include innovative and integrated curricula, capability- and competency-based education, and authentic programmatic assessment that supports meaningful growth. His recent work also explores interprofessional learning and the thoughtful integration of artificial intelligence and digital technologies into teaching, learning, and assessment.
Geisler has contributed to the advancement of his profession through journal editorial leadership, peer review, and service to national and international organizations focused on health professions education and assessment. He served as founding chair of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association’s (NATA) EducATionalist Community Cabinet and has helped shape professional education through committee leadership and service. His engagement in graduate education has also included faculty and doctoral-program advisory roles at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions.
His contributions have been recognized with several awards from his home profession, the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, including the Sayers “Bud” Miller Distinguished Educator Award, the Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award, and the Athletic Training Service Award. He has received manuscript awards from the Journal of Athletic Training and the Athletic Training Education Journal, along with multiple Ithaca College honors recognizing his teaching excellence, innovation, diversity and inclusion, and overall faculty achievement.
Geisler earned his Bachelor of Science in Sports Medicine with honors from Marietta College, his Master of Arts in Exercise Physiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and his Doctor of Education in Curriculum Studies from Georgia Southern University. He also participated in the Academy for Innovative Higher Education Leadership, offered jointly by Georgetown University and Arizona State University.
A native of Lakeville, Massachusetts, Geisler is an enthusiastic—if not especially fast—road cyclist, an amateur photographer of nature, people, and architecture, and a curious explorer of food and wine. He is a committed advocate for equal rights, social justice, and democratic values. He and Susan, his wife and life partner of more than three decades, are the proud parents of two sons: Nicholas, a writer and filmmaker, and Benjamin, a photographer.