Biography

I have been on the physics faculty at UVU since August, 2012. I teach courses across the entire physics curriculum, both theoretical and experimental.

My Ph.D. was in experimental particle physics. After a postdoctoral appointment at CERN in Geneva, Switzerland I began college teaching. I have taught at Grinnell College (Iowa), Williams College (MA), Pima Community College, the University of Arizona, and the University of Puget Sound (WA).

My research work involves thin film physics and nanotechnology education. I was the Principal Investigator of an NSF grant, "Integrating Environmentally Improved Photolithography Technology and Virtual Reality into Advanced Nanotechnology Education," ($703,906), completed in May 2022. Two new nanotechnology course, PHYS 1600 and PHYS 2800, are direct products of this grant.

Current work involves thin-film physics and nanotechnology experiments using our department's new laser microscope, electron microscope, and atomic force microscope.

Courses taught at UVU:

PHSC 1000 - Physical Science
PHYS 1600 - Intro to Nanotechnology & Cleanroom Processes
PHYS 2210, 2220 - University Physics 1 & 2
PHYS 2215 - University Physics 1 Lab
PHYS 2800 - Intro to Materials Physics and Nanotechnology

PHYS 3110 - Modern Physics 1
PHYS 3230 - Electronics
PHYS 3300 - Mathematical Methods for Physicists
PHYS 3500 - Thermodynamics
PHYS 3800 - Energy Use on Earth

PHYS 4210 - Advanced Laboratory
PHYS 4350 - Research Methods in Physics
PHYS 4410, 4420 - Electrostatics, electrodynamics
PHYS 4510, 4520 - Quantum Mechanics I & II

EDUCATION

Ph.D. in experimental particle physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, 1991.
B.S. Magna cum laude, Bemidji State University, 1982.

AWARDS

Presidential Award of Excellence, UVU President Astrid Tuminez, 2020
Dean's Award for Excellence in Scholarship, College of Science, 2017
Dean's Award for Excellence in Teaching, College of Science, 2016

Teaching