Profile

Beth Cunningham

American Association of Physics Teachers
Gold Most Valuable Member

Contact Details

American Association of Physics Teachers

Bio

Beth joined the American Association of Physics Teachers as the Executive Officer on January 1, 2011. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree, a Master of Arts degree, and a Doctor of Philosophy from Kent State University. After receiving her doctorate, Beth was a post doctoral fellow at the Hormel Institute at the University of Minnesota and she taught for one year in the physics department at Gettysburg College immediately following her post doctoral fellowship. In 1989 she joined the physics department at Bucknell University as an assistant professor and progressed through faculty ranks to full professor in 2002. In 2000 she was named associate dean of the faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences. She developed and administered the Bucknell Physics Department Summer Undergraduate Research Program and this program received funding from the National Science Foundation for over 12 years. In 2006, she was appointed as Provost, Dean of the Faculty, and Professor of Physics at Illinois Wesleyan University. At Illinois Wesleyan University, Beth initiated a strategic curricular review to enhancing academic programs and external reviews of academic departments. She also developed a child bearing and childrearing policy for faculty and staff. At AAPT, Beth is providing leadership on a number of physics education initiatives including the collaboration with the American Physical Society on the PhysTEC project, a major initiative to increase the number and quality of high school physics teachers, the development of a e-Mentoring program for new high school physics teachers, the PTRA program, and a new program on “Mobilizing Disciplinary Societies on Behalf of our Students … and our Planet” with Project Kaleidoscope. Beth has been active in educational and professional organizations at the national level such as chairing the Committee on Education for the American Physical Society in 2004. She has also taught a variety of courses, including seminars for first year students and advanced physics courses. She was co-principal investigator on a National Science Foundation grant recently awarded to Project Kaleidoscope to prepare faculty leaders in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. She continues to serve as a Councilor in the Physics and Astronomy Division of the Council on Undergraduate Research. Beth's research interests include the structure and function of phospholipid membranes and physics education research.

Job History

American Association of Physics Teachers
Executive Officer
October 2010 - present

Illinois Wesleyan University
Professor of Physics
August 2006 - December 2010

Illinois Wesleyan University
Provost and Dean of Faculty
August 2006 - July 2010

Bucknell University
Associate Dean of Faculty and Professor of Physics
August 2000 - June 2006

Bucknell University
Associate Professor
September 1995 - August 2002

Bucknell University
Chair, Faculty and Academic Personnel Committee
January 1995 - January 1996

Bucknell University
Assistant Professor
August 1989 - August 1995

Gettysburg College
Assistant Professor
July 1988 - July 1989

Kent State University
Graduate Student
August 1986 - August 1988

Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota
Post Doctoral Fellow
July 1986 - July 1988

American Liquid Xtal Chemical Corporation
Staff Physicist
January 1984 - June 1986

Kent State University
Graduate Student
June 1983 - November 1983