The American Association of Physics Teachers announced that Dr. Bob Powell, University of West Georgia professor, received the association’s Homer L. Dodge Citation for Distinguished Service to AAPT at the 2013 Summer Meeting in Portland, Ore.
Dr. Powell is professor and chair of Physics and Director of the Observatory at UWG, where he is completing his 46th year of teaching. As a member of AAPT since 1968, Dr. Powell was active in forming the Southern Atlantic Coast Section and served as its first Secretary-Treasurer. He has served two terms as President and is currently serving as Section Representative.
“I am deeply honored to receive this recognition for 45 years of service,” Dr. Powell says. “I have especially enjoyed serving on national committees during recent years.”
Dr. Powell is a strong supporter of AAPT and its programs. He has provided physics training for teachers across Georgia through the AAPT and Physics Teaching Resource Agents program, and he continued to find funding for those programs through Math and Science Partnership and Teacher Quality grants after the Rural PTRA funding was diminished. In addition to administering these grants, he is very involved in training teachers by attending and teaching at all workshop sessions. Dr. Powell is also concerned about the relatively few undergraduates receiving degrees in physics with certification and is leading his department in recruiting and graduating more qualified high school physics teachers.
“Professor Powell has served at West Georgia with dedication and passion for 46 years,” said Dr. Farooq Khan, dean of UWG’s College of Science and Mathematics. “I am ecstatic that he has received recognition from AAPT, an international organization for physics educators, physicists and industrial scientists—with members worldwide.”
The Homer L. Dodge Citation for Distinguished Service award was established in 1953 and renamed in recognition of AAPT founder Homer L. Dodge in 2012. The award is presented to members in recognition of their exceptional contributions to the association at the national, sectional or local level.
AAPT is dedicated to enhancing the understanding and appreciation of physics through teaching, AAPT provides awards, publications and programs that encourage teaching practical application of physics principles, support continuing professional development and reward excellence in physics education. AAPT was founded in 1930 and is headquartered in the American Center for Physics in College Park, Md. For more information, please visit www.aapt.org.
