Dyan Jones2024 National Board of Directors Election Candidate for AAPT Vice President


Dyan Jones

(she/hers)

Current Position
Professor of Physics, Mercyhurst University, 501 E. 38th Street, Erie, PA 16546
djones3@mercyhurst.edu

Education
PhD Physics – Kansas State University (2009)
MS Physics – Miami University
BA Physics – Edinboro University of PA

Professional Experience

  • Interim Dean of Global Programs & Experiential Learning (2022-2023)
  • Dean of the College of Natural & Health Sciences, Mercyhurst University (2021-2023)
  • Associate Vice President/Associate Vice Provost (2016-2022)
  • Department Chair of Physics (2013-2016)

Honors and Recognitions

  • “Trailblazer Award” from CampusLabs – May 2018
  • Homer L. Dodge Distinguished Service Citation from AAPT – 2014
  • Research Fellow of Mercyhurst University - 2013

AAPT Activities

  • Investment Advisory Board (2023-2024, 2020-2022)
  • Audit Committee (2017-2019, 2015-2017)
  • Awards Committee (2017-2019)
  • Bauder Endowment Committee (2017-2019)
  • Venture Fund Review Committee (2018-2019)
  • Board of Directors: Chair of the Section Representatives (2017-2019)
  • Governance Structure Committee (2015-2019)
  • Membership & Benefits Committee (2012-2019)
  • Section Representative: Western PA (2010-2019)
  • Board of Directors: Vice Chair of the Section Representatives (2015-2017)
  • Publications Committee (2015-2017)
  • Committee on Physics in Undergraduate Education (2014-2015)
  • Nominating Committee (2010-2014)
  • Committee on Professional Concerns (2010-2013, Chair from 2011-2013)

Other Professional Activities
I have served as a reviewer for institutional accreditation through MSCHE, an editor for the PERC Proceedings, reviewer for The Physics Teacher and American Journal of Physics, as well as for National Science Foundation proposals.  In addition, I’ve completed the Academic Impressions “5 Principles of Effective Leadership” workshop as well as various EAB trainings and “bootcamps” for academic administration and leadership.

Candidate Statement
I first joined AAPT in 2005 as a master’s student through a complimentary membership that accompanied a graduate teaching assistant award.  Little did I know then how significantly AAPT would shape my career in the too-many years since.  My earnest engagement with AAPT began in my PhD program, where our physics education research group attended both summer and winter meetings of AAPT as well as PERC, fostering participation through research presentations and conversation with other scholars and teachers. That engagement deepened at the section level in Western Pennsylvania when I started at Mercyhurst University, and I never ceased to marvel at the excellent educators, researchers, teacher-scholars who were willing to share their expertise or just a cup of coffee with a new faculty member.

It was through the sections and my time as a section representative that I had the opportunity to serve on many AAPT committees and ultimately on the Board of Directors.  From approximately 2010 through the end of my Board term in 2019, I was able to listen and learn about how the AAPT structure worked at both the macro and micro levels and to contribute to the organization in ways that I hope were productive.  I can retrospectively acknowledge that this was a time of significant personal and professional growth for me; the end of my Board service coincided with a transition to educational leadership at my home university, which unfortunately necessitated a stepping-back from the level of engagement with AAPT that I had been accustomed to.

Since returning to faculty and reengaging with AAPT, I have been heartened to experience the camaraderie of the membership again and to re-engage with others who are committed to advancing physics teaching.  I was therefore both honored by the nomination for the vice president role and acutely aware of the significance.  I believe that those in the presidential chain have a responsibility to uphold the mission and vision of the organization, carry out the strategic plan, and ensure the positive trajectory of the membership.  In my view, none of those responsibilities can be met without a clear dedication to identifying and addressing issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

If elected, I will strive to draw on my experiences and resources from both inside and outside the organization while working with the other Board members to continue building an AAPT that meets member needs, advances the discipline, and is inclusive of all.  I believe that the current strategic plan lays a productive path forward with a focus on opportunities for professional growth and development, provision of critical resources, and a focus on engagement of the membership in all areas.  Most importantly, I would dedicate my efforts to think generatively with constituents from across the organization about how we might manifest those goals in a way that not only adds DEI as an additional item but rather centralizes it as critical to achieving any productive outcome. Whether in the vice-presidential role or as an active member of the organization, I’m grateful for the opportunity to stand alongside excellent educators at all levels as we learn and grow together, face the challenges ahead, and strive to advance our profession and discipline.