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Dr. C. Samuel Micklus is a Professor Emeritus at Rowan University of New Jersey (formerly Glassboro State College) where he taught technology from 1968 to 1991.
For several years prior to 1978, Professor Micklus experimented with creative problem-solving activities with the college students in his industrial design classes. He used new and challenging problems to probe students' minds for solutions. Often, risk takers were rewarded more highly than students who simply solved the problem.
Watching the growth of Odyssey of the Mind with pride, Dr. Micklus has enjoyed witnessing the creativity exhibited by the many young people involved. He is pleased that this program allows students an opportunity to express their talents and abilities to the fullest. According to Dr. Micklus, "Odyssey of the Mind teaches young people to embrace changes. It instills in youngsters an excitement about learning and an excitement about themselves and their ability to achieve what others might say is impossible." His belief is that for education to be most effective it must be challenging, and that it is important for students to have fun in the process of meeting those challenges.
Dr. Micklus has spoken at conferences on gifted education, technology and curriculum development in nearly every U.S. state, Washington, DC, and a dozen other countries. Dr. Micklus is the author of many books, articles and teachers' manuals on industrial design and creative problem-solving. He earned his Doctor of Education degree in 1975 at New York University, an M.A. in Industrial Arts Education in 1968 from Trenton State College, and a B.S. in Industrial Design in 1966 from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia