Mary E. Mogge

December 2, 1943 - November 22, 2024

Dr. Mary Elizabeth Mogge who assumed the role of AAPT President in 2015, becoming the 80th physics educator to fill the role and all of the leadership and committee member roles assigned to AAPT's President, passed away on November 22, 2024.

Mogge earned her B.A. in Physics at Carleton College, her M.A. in Physics at State University of New York at Stony Brook, and her Ph.D. in Theoretical Particle Physics at The Florida State University. Her career has been largely at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona where she was a faculty member, professor, and Chair of the Department of Physics. She taught in the Department of Physics at Cal Poly Pomona for more than thirty years (1979-2014) and served as the department chair for six years (2001-2007) and retired as Professor Emerita. She was the first in her family to attend college and was passionate about helping support other first-generation students who were interested in continuing their studies in the field of Physics. The Cal Poly Pomona College of Science, Department of Physics & Astronomy has a scholarship named for her.

Mogge’s service to the physics education profession is extensive. She was Academic Director of the U.S. Physics Team from 1999 – 2005; Senior Coach (1997-98; Coach 1995-96). Prior to becoming involved with the U.S. Physics Team, Mogge was a member of the Examination Editorial Board from 1990-92 and Exam Editor from 1992 – 1998. She was a regular donor to the Physics Team throughout her life.

Attendees at the 2012 AAPT Winter Meeting enjoyed the hospitality of Cal Poly, Pomona when Mogge, together with the Southern California Section of AAPT hosted the association in Ontario, California.

Familiar with AAPT’s history and governance, Mogge was elected to serve as Vice Chair of the Section Representatives in 2007 and filled the position of Chair of the Section Representatives from 2009-2011. In addition to representing the Section Representatives on the Executive Board, her extensive service to AAPT included service from the Audit Committee to the Women in Physics Committee. She was serving on the EP3 Editorial Board when she passed away.

Mogge was recognized with the Homer L. Dodge Citation for Outstanding Service to AAPT and was part of the inaugural cohort of AAPT Fellows honored in 2014.

She has served as an officer in the Southern California Section from 1993-2012. Including as a Section officer continuously since 1993 – serving as Editor (1993 – 1997), Vice President (1997 – 1999), President (1999 – 2001), Past President (2001 – 2003), Treasurer (2003 – 2005), Section Representative (2004 – 2014) and local host for Fall 2008 section meeting at Cal Poly.

Other Professional Activities were: Advanced Placement Physics C Development Committee (member 2009 – Present, Co-Chair 2011 – Present) Special consultant to the Saudi Arabian Physics Team for the International Physics Olympiad (February 2011) Member of Committee of Examiners for the GRE Subject Test in Physics (2000-2006). AP Table Leader (1991 – 1996); AP Reader (1988 – 1990, 2000, 2011, 2012) Member of the AIP and APS.

Additional information:
https://aapt.org/aboutaapt/Mary-Elizabeth-Mogge-Becomes-the-80th-AAPT-President.cfmhttps://www.aapt.org/aboutaapt/organization/mogge_2012_election_bio.cfm

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David Wolfe

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