Dr. Ronald Shaklee attended high school in Lanham, Maryland. He served with the U.S. Army in Vietnam (1970-1971). Following Vietnam he served with the 1st Infantry Division at Ft. Riley, Kansas. After his discharge from the U.S. Army, Dr. Shaklee attended the University of Kansas where he earned B.A. (1975), M.A. (1979) and Ph.D. (1983) degrees in Geography. His geographic specialties included Remote Sensing, Urban Geography and Latin American Geography. While at the University of Kansas Dr. Shaklee was involved in the first NASA funded efforts to develop civilian applications for the Earth Resources Satellite System (ERTS), forerunner to the Landsat series of earth resources satellites.
Prior to accepting a position at Youngstown State University (YSU), Dr. Shaklee held teaching positions at Missouri State University and Mississippi State University. While teaching at Mississippi State University Dr. Shaklee was introduced to the teaching and research facilities at the Bahamian Field Station (now the College of the Bahamas Gerace Research Centre) on San Salvador Island. Upon his arrival at YSU he instituted a Bahamian teaching and research program at the university. Except for 2020 when the global pandemic effectively shut down international travel, YSU students visited San Salvador every year since 1988. Through his efforts, faculty members in Archaeology, Biology, Geology, and Mathematics have been introduced to teaching and research opportunities in the Bahamas. Over 1000 YSU students have been introduced to field instruction and research on San Salvador Island through Honors Tropical Ecology seminars and classes in Geography, Archaeology, Biology, Geology, and Mathematics. In 1991, The College of the Bahamas Gerace Research Centre and Youngstown State University entered into an Affiliation Agreement. This agreement serves as the longest continuous active agreement between YSU and a partner international institution. To date, dozens of Bahamian students have been afforded the opportunity to study at YSU.
In August 2000, Dr. Shaklee was appointed to serve as the Acting Director of the University Scholars and Honors Program at Youngstown State University. He was appointed Director of the University Scholars and Honors Program beginning with the Fall Term 2001 and continued in that capacity through 2015 when he returned to the faculty. From 2016-2020 he served as the Chair of the Department of Geography. Dr. Shaklee has been recognized as a Distinguished Professor for University Service on three occasions. He also earned a Distinguished Professor Award for Teaching as well as a Distinguished Chair Award for Teaching.
Dr. Shaklee was inducted into Chapter 143 (YSU chapter) of the Honors Society of Phi Kappa Phi in 2002. He served as the Chapter 143 scholarship officer for eight years. In 2012 he was elected to the position of President-elect. In 2014 he was elevated to the position of President of the chapter. He has served in multiple capacities as an officer in the national organization of Phi Kappa Phi and has served on national committees engaged in selecting recipients of Fellowships, as well as on committees selecting recipients of study abroad, and Love of Learning grants. He also was elected to positions as Chair and Secretary-Treasurer of East Lakes Division of the American Association of Geography.
Dr. Shaklee’s publications are focused on the Bahamas and the Caribbean. He consistently involves students in his research efforts. The results of student research conducted on San Salvador are routinely presented at QUEST and at professional conferences held at regional, national, and international levels. Dr. Shaklee’s publications include: In Columbus’ Footsteps: A Geography of San Salvador Island, The Bahamas and, San Salvador Weather and Climate. His numerous research articles deal with historical weather conditions in the Bahamas, Bahamian environmental issues, Bahamian tourism, and the cartographic evolution of the Bahamas Archipelago over time. He has published a children’s book, The Misadventures of Maria the Hutia, a book that addresses mankind’s impact on threatened tropical environments. In his spare time he enjoys writing and recording music. He and his wife, Dr. Sharon Stringer of the YSU Department of Psychology, annually engage in travel to faraway places.
Dr. Shaklee has a history of successfully mentoring students towards receiving national awards, including the following:
- Five Goldwater Scholars
- Three Goldwater Scholar Honorable Mentions
- One Rhodes Scholar
- One Marshall Scholar Finalist
- Two Truman Scholars Finalists
- Seven Phi Kappa Phi National Fellowship Recipients
- Two Phi Kappa Phi Awards of Excellence Recipients