AWARDS

Stephen Hagen, Teacher of the Year 2015

 

December 2015

 

In recent years, Steve has taught a variety of upper-level undergraduate courses for which he has consistently received excellent peer and student evaluations. A feature that particularly stands out is his continual process of innovation in the classroom and teaching lab. Steve has updated PHZ 4710 Introduction to Biological Physics to bring its content up to date and to make it relevant to a broader population of students. He also introduced MATLAB-based instruction and homework, and added a writing requirement that made PHZ 4710 a "Gordon rule" course.

 

Steve has been the Principal Investigator on an NSF grant for designing biological physics experiments to be used in the Advanced Physics Laboratory (PHY 4803L). With Bob DeSerio, Steve has developed two experiments that have not only been successfully incorporated into our own course, but also disseminated to visiting faculty from other institutions.

 

Finally, but not least, Steve has been dedicated to promoting academic honesty, both in his own classrooms and across the university. All these accomplishments make it very appropriate to recognize Steve as the Physics Teacher of the Year.