Cynthia Bauerle

Cynthia M. Bauerle is an American molecular biologist and college administrator. She is the dean of the James Madison University College of Science and Mathematics.

Bauerle is from Charlottesville, Virginia. She completed a B.A. in biology at University of Virginia and a Ph.D. in molecular biology at University of Wisconsin–Madison. Bauerle was a postdoctoral fellow at University of Oregon where she researched molecular biology. She was a Fulbright scholar at University of Dar es Salaam from 1999 to 2000.

Bauerle, a molecular biologist, was a professor of biology and women's studies at Hamline University for 12 years before joining Spelman College where she was a professor and department chair of biology. Bauerle moved to Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) for seven years as a senior program officer and later, the assistant director of Precollege and Undergraduate Science Education. She was also the assistant director in undergraduate and graduate science education at HHMI. She managed the science education portfolio of grants, fellowships, and special initiatives. Bauerle oversaw multi-institutional initiatives to improve science education and student persistence in STEM and coordinated the NEXUS project. On July 1, 2016, Bauerle became a professor of biology and dean of the James Madison University College of Science and Mathematics, succeeding David Brakke.

Bauerle identifies as gender-queer. She is a parent and is in a multi-racial and same-sex relationship.