About
Dr. Chris Cheatham is the Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Western Michigan University (WMU), where he has progressed through multiple academic and administrative roles since joining in 2003. He began as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, achieving promotion to Associate Professor (2007) and Full Professor (2014). His leadership trajectory includes serving as Department Chair (2011-2013), Associate Dean for Academic Services in the College of Education and Human Development (2014-2018), and Vice Provost before assuming his current provost role in 2018.
Cheatham's research focuses on environmental physiology, examining human responses to thermal stressors, exercise-induced physiological changes, and performance optimization. His work has been funded by the U.S. Department of Defense and commercial entities, resulting in 24 peer-reviewed publications and 42 conference presentations. Core research themes include:
- Thermoregulation during cold/heat exposure
- Exercise physiology and metabolic responses
- Environmental impacts on human performance
- Recovery interventions for athletic performance
- Physiological biomarkers in health and exercise
His scholarly publications demonstrate consistent focus on human adaptation to environmental stressors, with recent work exploring cold-induced vasodilation, hydration strategies, muscle recovery, and innovative physiological measurement techniques. Research frequently intersects sports science, clinical applications, and military physiology.
Education background:
- Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology, Kent State University
- M.S. in Exercise Physiology, Ball State University
- B.S. in Exercise Science, Miami University
- Postdoctoral Fellowship, John B. Pierce Laboratory (Yale University School of Medicine)
Administratively, Cheatham oversees WMU's academic budget, personnel, institutional research, sustainability initiatives, and radio station. He also coordinates enrollment management and leads institutional effectiveness efforts.
