Wolfgang Christian 2014 Election Bio

Wolfgang Christian Wolfgang Christian, candidate for AAPT Secretary.

Physics Chair and Brown Professor
Davidson College
Davidson, NC 28035.
wochristian@davidson.edu

Education
B.S. North Carolina State University, 1970; Physics cum laude
Ph.D. North Carolina State University, 1976, Edward Manring, advisor

Professional Appointments
Davidson College
Professor of Physics (1993-present)
Associate Professor of Physics (1986-1993)
Assistant Professor of Physics (1983-1986)
Earlham College, Assistant Professor, 1979-1982
Allegheny College, Assistant Professor, 1978-1979
Mercyhurst College, Assistant Professor, 1975-1979

Honors
AAAS Science Prize for Online Resources in Education (SPORE) Award, 2011
SESAPS Pegram Award in the Teaching of Physics, 2009
UCES Computational Engineering and Science Award, 2007
American Physical Society Fellow, 2005
AAPT Distinguished Service Award, 2003
NC Section, AAPT, Outstanding Service to the Section (John Hubisz) Award, 2001
Max Planck Institut fuer Quantenoptik DAAD Fellow, 1990
Fulbright Fellowship, 1977
NSF Graduate Fellowship, 1970-1972

Memberships
American Association of Physics Teachers
American Physical Society
North Carolina Section AAPT
AAAS

AAPT/APS/GRC Activities
North Carolina Section, AAPT, Executive chain 2011-2015; President 2013-14
Workshop leader at the New Faculty Workshop, 2005-present
Editor of the Open Source Physics Collection on ComPADRE, 2006-present
GRC Physics Research and Education, Vice-chair and Chair, 2004-2008
Organized and led numerous Physlet and Open Source Physics Workshops at national and regional AAPT meetings

AAPT Committee Service
AAPT Secretary, 2012 - present
Publications Committee Chair, 2012 - present
Nominating Committee Chair, 2006
Committee on Undergraduate Education 2004-2007
Committee on Educational Technologies 2001-2004
Lotze Scholarship Committee 1999-2002
American Physical Society Committee Service
Forum on Education member, Executive Chain 2001-2005, Chair 2004.
Committee on Education, 2002-2005.
Excellence in Physics Education Award Chair, 2006.
Computers in Physics Books Editor, 1994-1998

Commentary
Although I am a member of other professional organizations, the AAPT is my professional home and has influenced my teaching and my career unlike the other societies. I have been a member of AAPT for over 30 years and a member of the NC Section since its founding in 1996 The Association enabled me to meet and to learn from Cliff Swartz, Arnold Arons, and Len Jossem and the Association introduced me to MUPPET, Physics by Inquiry, and SCISS. I hope to be able to contribute to AAPT so that it continues this tradition of bringing together the best and most innovative physics practitioners and educators.

Because the AAPT Secretary serves on the Board, the Council, and various AAPT committees for up to 6 years, the position offers a unique opportunity to provide continuity and leadership to support our mission to enhance the understanding and appreciation of physics through teaching.  I wish to support this mission by working with the Board, Section Representatives, and Area Chairs to create meetings and programs that bring together teachers from high school, two- and four-year colleges, and universities with researchers in traditional experimental and theoretical physics, PER, and allied STEM disciplines.  The Association can only succeed if these constituencies work together with common purpose.  The Secretary serves as Chair of the Publications Committee and this committee will need to address the use of new electronic document formats, such as ePub and Mobi, for creating and distributing AAPT journals and other publications. If elected, I look forward to working with the TPT, AJP, ComPADRE, and other editors on these issues. Finally, the Secretary, in consultation with the President and the Executive Officer, prepares agendas for the Executive Board and Council meetings and keeps the official minutes of these meetings.  If elected, I look forward to carrying out these duties to provide an accurate historic record of the AAPT and to improve communication throughout our organization.