Allied Health Sciences Professor Does Double Duty

Michael Keller, MBA, is back in Lubbock, but there’s no telling for how long. The director of clinical support services management in the School of Allied Health Sciences serves as a colonel with the U.S. Army Reserve, Civil Affairs Branch, currently leads the Functional Specialty Team of the 321st Civil Affairs Brigade.

Keller recently returned to the U.S. after a yearlong overseas military deployment. He commanded a U.S. Army Civil Military Operations Center based in Kuwait that serves the humanitarian needs of the greater Middle East. Keller led his team in support missions for Iraq, Afghanistan, Kirgizstan, Tajikistan and Pakistan.

Although the veteran travels frequently to serve his country, Keller uses distance education technology and support from the Department of Clinic Administration and Rehabilitation Counseling faculty and staff to continuously guide allied health sciences students to health care careers.

Shifting Focus

During normal hours as a civil affairs operator, Keller interfaced with foreign civilians or host-nation governments. Civil affairs operators assist in lessening the impact of military operations on the local populous during peace, contingency operations and declared wars, Keller said. In the conduct of civil-military operations civil affairs soldiers are called upon to employ their expertise in civil matters like government, health care, infrastructure and disaster response.

After hours and on the occasional day off, Keller sustained his duties as professor.

“My teaching is principally done online; so many times my students do not even know when I am teaching from outside the country,” Keller said. “Grading papers, responding to student questions and leading course discussions really helps with keeping me connected to the world and makes my time away pass more quickly.”

Keller said he is thankful for the superb technical support and assistance that allows him to continue his passion for teaching and is also proud to be a part of the 96 percent of U.S. Army Civil Affairs personnel who come from the Army Reserve.

“With the approach of Veterans Day, I do not think of my service, and myself rather; I think of the many soldiers, Marines, sailors and airmen that I have served with and what I have learned from them,” Keller said. “I am so grateful for their service support, mentoring and sacrifice for our country. I continue to be in awe of the dedication and many accomplishments that our all-volunteer force achieves every day, all over the world.”