Andy Gavrin2025 National Board of Directors Election Candidate for Vice-President

Andy Gavrin

Professor of Physics, Indiana University Indianapolis
agavrin@iu.edu

Education

BS, Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MS and PhD, The Johns Hopkins University

Professional Experience

Asst./Assoc./Full Professor, Indiana University Indianapolis (Formerly IUPUI) (1995-present)
Visiting Scholar, Department of Physics, Purdue Univ. (2016)
Natl. Res. Council Postdoc, Natl. Inst. of Stds. and Technol., Gaithersburg, MD (1992-1995)

Selected Awards

Indiana University: Herron-Bodner-Boschmann Award for Scholarly Work in Sci. Educ.; Athletics Dept. Favorite Professor Award (5x); Prestigious External Award Recognition; Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching; IU Trustee’s Teaching Award; Teaching Excellence Recognition Award (2x); School of Science Teaching Award; IU Faculty Academy on Excellence in Teaching

AAPT: AAPT Fellow; David Halliday and Robert Resnick Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Physics Teaching; Homer L. Dodge Distinguished Service Citation

ASEE: John A. Curtis Lecture Award

Memberships

Current: AAPT, APS.
Lapsed: Materials Research Society, ASEE.

AAPT Activities (Leadership roles in bold)

  • Chair of Advisory board for High School Photo Contest (2009-present)
  • Co-Chair, Annual Meeting Planning Committee (2024)
  • AAPT Representative on American Institute of Physics Liaison Committee (2021-2024)
  • Educational Technologies Committee (Founding chair, 9 years total, 6 years chair 2002-2024)
  • Chair, ad hoc external review committee on electronic publications (2018-2019)
  • Meetings Structure Committee (2017-2020)
  • Presenter at AAPT/APS/AAS New Faculty Workshop (25 times, 2009-2022)
  • Presenter AAPT Workshops (15 times, 1998-present)
  • Paper sorter for national conferences (2006, 2013, 2014, 2018)
  • Undergraduate Curriculum Task Force (2013-2018)
  • Committee on Physics in Undergraduate Education (member 2013, chair 2014)
  • Task force on Alternative Access to Conferences (2012-2013)
  • Host of Indiana Section Annual Meeting (2012)
  • Special Projects and Philanthropy Committee (2012)
  • Nominating Committee (2007)
  • Committee on Instructional Media (member 2000, chair 2001)
  • SPIN-UP site visit team, Univ. of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (2001)
  • Organized many invited sessions, including “The Art and Science of Teaching” each summer 2014-2022

Other Activities (Leadership roles in bold)

  • Indiana University Learning Technologies Steering Committee (2010-present)
  • Director, PA Mack Center for Inquiry on Teaching and Learning (2016-2023)
  • Indiana University Faculty Academy for Excellence in Teaching Steering Committee (2002-2010, 2026-2023)
  • Indiana University President’s Task Force on Tuition and Fees (2022 – 2023)
  • Chair of Physics Department (2009 – 2021)
  • APS Forum on Education Nominating Committee (2018)
  • Co-director of the IUPUI STEM Education Research Institute (2012-2016)
  • Indiana Dept of Education consultant on high school physics standards, dual credit programs (1999, 2007, 2008, 2015)
  • Associate Dean of Science for Undergraduate programs (2005 – 2009)
  • Intel Science and Eng. Fair Grand Awards Judge (2 years, 1 as co-chair of physics judges)
  • Hoosier Science and Engineering Fair Judge (13 years, 7 years as judging chair for seniors)
  • Editorial Board of American Journal for Undergraduate Research (2003-present)
  • Mentoring student research projects (26 undergraduates, 15 graduate students)
  • Mentoring faculty and postdocs (6 faculty members, 1 postdoc)

Candidate Statement

My first AAPT meeting was in Lincoln Nebraska, August, 1998. I distinctly remember the feeling that I had “found my people.” What I discovered at AAPT was a group of people that were passionate about their students’ success, and willing to keep learning new ways to achieve that success. I was immediately hooked and have attended all but a handful of AAPT meetings since. Joining AAPT drastically altered my career path. I got involved in curriculum development, I volunteered to be a student advisor, and I created one of the first course web sites at my institution. I wound up applying for tenure and promotion based on excellence in teaching rather than research. Not long after, I gave up my much beloved research lab and turned my entire attention to physics education. Ever since, AAPT has been my professional home. I have found countless resources, ideas, and friendships at its conferences, in its publications, and on its committees.

If elected, my goal will be to help AAPT continue to find its people. If someone looks at an AAPT publication, they should say “wow” this is useful! If someone comes to a conference, they should want to come to the next. These things should be true for anyone who teaches physics, regardless of their background and identities. AAPT’s mission statement is “To advance physics teaching and learning by serving as the trusted hub for valued resources and programs, facilitating strong professional networks, and supporting members to advocate for physics education.” The emphasis in trust is mine. When talking to new faculty, one of my key messages is that trust is the crucial element of the 1st day of class. If you earn your students trust that day, they will work hard for you. If you don’t, you’ll have a much harder time.

What do I bring to the table? I have a wealth of experience leading academic units. I’ve been Associate Dean, Department Chair, and Director of two different STEM innovation and research centers. I’ve chaired committees and joined advisory boards both in my university and at AAPT. I have also been a part of many professional development efforts, including the New Faculty Workshop. I helped create the “Early Career Teaching Academy at my institution, and I have offered 15 workshops at AAPT national meetings. These and other experiences will help me get started. My passion for the success of all our students, and my willingness to keep learning will carry me the rest of the way. I’m used to working in a strong cross wind.