VP for Learning

Michael Ottinger grew up in Bakersfield, California. He attended Brigham Young University where he earned a B.S. and M.S. in physics, with an emphasis on single-species plasmas. At The University of Texas, he earned a PhD in physics with an emphasis on computational particle accelerator design.

Michael taught physics and math at Truman State University (1997-2000) in Kirksville, Missouri and then at Missouri Western State University (2000-2015) in St Joseph, Missouri. At Missouri Western, he was a Faculty Senator, Chair of the Promotion and Tenure Committee, Chair of the General Education Committee, Vice-Chair of the Graduate Council, and Chair of the Computer Science, Math, and Physics Department. He was a director of the Mid-America Regional Science and Engineering Fair, State Director of the Missouri Junior Academy of Science, and President of the Missouri Academy of Science.

In August 2015, Michael was hired as Dean of the School of Science, Math, and Engineering at San Juan College and has recently been appointed Vice-President for Learning. He served on the New Mexico General Education Task Force, New Mexico Common Course Numbering Task Force, New Mexico Math Pathways Core Team, and director of the San Juan Regional Science and Engineering Fair and is coordinator for the San Juan College Leadership Academy and Management Institute (LAMI). 

Michael has been married to his wife, Julene, for 33 years. They have three adult children. His hobbies include genealogy, hiking, and playing the organ.