Dr. Mary Kathleen “MK” Gorman serves as Curriculum Chair for the College of Aviation (COA) at ݮƵ – Worldwide. Based in Richmond, Virginia, she oversees college-wide curriculum development, program assessment, academic program reviews and implementation of new and existing degree programs. In addition, she provides mentorship to faculty and ensures academic alignment with university policies and standards.
Since joining Embry-Riddle in 2010, Dr. Gorman has held several key leadership positions, including Program Chair of the B.S. in Safety Management and Associate Chair of the B.S. in Emergency Services within the College of Arts & Sciences.
Before entering academia, Dr. Gorman spent nearly two decades as a geological consultant in the private sector, managing projects involving hazardous materials and environmental contamination. Her work included developing innovative solutions to groundwater and surface water challenges, methane gas investigations and site remediations. Notably, she championed, designed and completed Virginia’s first Brownfields landfill reclamation project.
Earlier in her career, Dr. Gorman served with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, where she worked in multiple regional and central offices. During her 10-year tenure, she managed millions in federal grant funding for the State-Lead and Alternate Water Supply Programs, contributed to the drafting of Underground Storage Tank Program legislation and regulations and helped establish key groundwater protection policies.
Her research and publications span environmental science, public safety, policy analysis and emerging technologies in aviation. Areas of focus include unconventional energy development, water resource management, emergency management and Aircraft Rescue & Fire Fighting (ARFF). Her doctoral dissertation explored the social dimensions of hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) in the Marcellus shale. Through collaborative research at Embry-Riddle, Dr. Gorman continues to explore intersections between emergency management and innovative aviation technologies. She has also developed several courses in safety management and accident investigation for both the College of Aviation and the College of Arts & Sciences.
Outside of academia, Dr. Gorman is an avid sports enthusiast who played competitive softball for over 30 years and still celebrates the excitement of baseball’s Opening Day. She enjoys golf, horseshoes, cornhole, cooking, gardening, relaxing with neighbors on the porch and exploring Virginia’s many wineries and microbreweries.
Ph.D. - Doctor of Philosophy in Public Policy and Administration: Public Safety Management, Walden University
M. - Master in Disaster Science, University of Richmond
B.S. - Bachelor of Science in Geology, College of William and Mary
Senior Project Geologist, Bennett & Williams, Inc. (1994-2012); Geologist, Environmental Program Planner, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (1985-1994).
American Society of Safety Professionals
Association of Women Geoscientists
Women in Aviation
Embry-Riddle Safety Industry Advisory Board
National Society of Leadership and Success (2023)
Embry-Riddle College of Aeronautics Making a Difference Award (2021)
Embry-Riddle Latitude Awards Faculty Member of the Year Finalist (2016)
Embry-Riddle College of Arts & Sciences Faculty Member of the Year Award (2014)
Virginia Network Senior Women's Leadership Seminar, Executive Board Women in Higher Ed. (2013-14)
Pi Alpha Alpha Honor Society (2015)
Golden Key International Honour Society (2015)
University of Richmond Disaster Science Book Award (2009)