Lifelong Educator Named 2023 Distinguished Alumni

Dr. Diana Wehrell-Grabowski, a lifelong science educator who has made significant contributions to the field, has received the Eastern Florida State College Foundation’s Distinguished Alumni Award for 2023.

“Diana’s dedication to education and society at large is a showcase on the important impacts that EFSC graduates are making every day,” said Tonya Cherry, the EFSC Foundation’s Executive Director.

“She is a renowned leader always striving to improve the world in which she lives, and we are honored to present her the award and call her a friend of the college.

Wehrell-Grabowski was nominated by Dr. Kelly Dwenger, Director of EFSC’s Academic Success Centers.

Dwenger praised her for “inspiring children and adults to the wonders of science and STEM” and being “an advocate for promoting scientific literacy in underserved populations and communities.”

A 1979 graduate of the college when it was known as Brevard Community College, Wehrell-Grabowski holds a Doctorate Degree from the Florida Institute of Technology in Science Education, and a Master’s Degree from the University of Guam in Curriculum and Instruction specializing in Secondary Science.

She has been a full-time science educator, assistant director for the Center of Excellence at Florida Institute of Technology, adjunct professor, and the owner of Mobile Science Education Consulting Services.

In the latter role, she travels the nation and world conducting science and STEM professional staff development and Family Science events for educators, administrators and families.

Her work has taken her to Columbia, the Dominican Republic, Indonesia, Mexico, the Philippines, Thailand, Turkey, Puerto Rico and Guam.

Wehrell-Grabowski has presented at hundreds of educational conferences and remains active in the classroom, conducting hands-on science and STEM lessons in public and private schools and community science and STEM events. She also focuses on attracting more women into science careers.

The EFSC Foundation will begin accepting applications for the 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award in July. For more information about the EFSC Foundation, scholarships and the Distinguished Alumni Award, visit easternflorida.edu/foundation or call 321-433-7055.