Michael Frank Sayler

Submitted By jlk0041 on Thu, 10/17/2024 - 11:26am

Dr. Michael Frank Sayler, 70, former educational psychology faculty member and senior associate dean in the College of Education, died Oct. 5.

He was born in Aberdeen, South Dakota, and was married to his wife, Stephanie, for 47 years. He earned his bachelor’s degree in education from St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota, and taught elementary and middle school-aged children until 1985, when he began work on his master’s and doctoral degrees in educational psychology at Purdue University, specializing in gifted education.

He joined the UNT faculty in 1990, where he taught in the special education doctoral program and later served as associate dean for academic affairs and research in the college. He was a pioneer in online learning and gifted education and was a member of the editorial boards for several journals as well as serving as editor for the Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented for several years. He also built one of the world’s largest online gifted certifications, enrolling more than 250 students from around the world each semester. In 2015, he joined Eastern Michigan University as dean of the College of Education until his retirement in 2021.

He was greatly devoted to his family and church and to serving others. He also enjoyed working with the soil, growing a big garden in every place he lived.

Services were held Oct. 11 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with burial at Old St. Patrick Church Cemetery.

Dr. Michael Frank Sayler, 70, former educational psychology faculty member and senior associate dean in the College of Education, died Oct. 5.

He was born in Aberdeen, South Dakota, and was married to his wife, Stephanie, for 47 years. He earned his bachelor’s degree in education from St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota, and taught elementary and middle school-aged children until 1985, when he began work on his master’s and doctoral degrees in educational psychology at Purdue University, specializing in gifted education.

He joined the UNT faculty in 1990, where he taught in the special education doctoral program and later served as associate dean for academic affairs and research in the college. He was a pioneer in online learning and gifted education and was a member of the editorial boards for several journals as well as serving as editor for the Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented for several years. He also built one of the world’s largest online gifted certifications, enrolling more than 250 students from around the world each semester. In 2015, he joined Eastern Michigan University as dean of the College of Education until his retirement in 2021.

He was greatly devoted to his family and church and to serving others. He also enjoyed working with the soil, growing a big garden in every place he lived.

Services were held Oct. 11 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with burial at Old St. Patrick Church Cemetery.

Top