Cheryl Lynn Stevens (67) of Alvaton, Kentucky passed away September 14th, 2023, with family by her side after a long battle with cancer.
She is survived by her children Geoffrey Stevens (Katrina), Michael Stevens (Nicole), and Richard Stevens (Shelby); stepchildren Heather Chumbley (Tim) and Scott Stevens (Shasta); grandchildren Sonny Stevens and Bowie Stevens; partner Michael Cowles and children Marybeth Rhoden (Tyler), Ryan Cowles, and Melissa Cowles, and grandchild Ada Statum; siblings Stacy Sirull, Jerry Falk, and Louis Falk; parents Eva Falk and Melvin Falk; pets Ruthie and Eddie. She was preceded in death by her husband of 35 years, Edwin Stevens.
Cheryl was exceptionally accomplished both academically and professionally. She held a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the University of New Orleans (1982) and a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Tampa (1978). Her professional career began in 1982 as a Professor of Chemistry at Xavier University of Louisiana, where she later rose to the positions of Chemistry Department Chair and Associate Dean for Research. In 2012, she moved to Bowling Green to become Dean and Professor of Ogden College of Science and Engineering at Western Kentucky University (WKU), where she spent the rest of her career. She retired from WKU in 2021 as acting Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs after a 40-year career in academia. She also served in multiple professional organizations throughout her career, most notably as President of the American Crystallographic Association, a member of the U.S. National Committee on Crystallography, and on the board of directors for the American Institute of Physics. Throughout her career, she secured grant funding of more than $20 million in various research projects.