Keil Joins Environmental Studies Faculty at Wheaton

Dr. Charles “Chris” B. Keil recently joined the Wheaton College faculty as Professor of Environmental Science and Director of Wheaton’s Environmental Studies Program.

Keil is a 1987 graduate of Wheaton College, where he earned a B.S. in Biology. He completed an M.S. and a Ph.D. in Environmental and Occupational Health Science at the University of Illinois at Chicago, School of Public Health.

Keil was previously a professor in the Environmental Health program at Bowling Green State University. He was also an associate professor in the Department of Public Health at the University of Toledo Health Science Campus. He taught as a visiting faculty member at the Wheaton College Science Station located in the Black Hills of South Dakota, and has also taught in Hungary, Germany, Norway, Moldova, and Ethiopia.

Keil’s research focuses on environmental pollution assessment. He is one of the editors of Mathematical Models for Estimating Occupational Exposure to Chemicals (American Industrial Hygiene Association, 2009). His recent work includes studies of air pollution exposures in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

“As a Wheaton College alumnus, I know how formative an undergraduate experience at Wheaton can be,” Keil says. “I look forward to being a part of that experience for new generations of Christians.” “As an environmental professional, I see many opportunities that the Christian community can pursue to follow God more closely as good stewards of his creation.”

“As a teacher, I believe that talking isn’t teaching—and listening isn’t learning,” Keil says. “Effective learning is accomplished through a dynamic combination of pedagogical techniques utilizing hands-on and minds-on learning—all connected to concrete and practical applications.”

“Dr. Keil’s background allows him to bring new, exciting elements to our Environmental Studies curriculum,” says Wheaton College provost Dr. Stanton Jones. “His expertise will add new strengths to the program.”