Dear CWU Physics alumni and friends,
Hello from the Physics Department! In this year’s newsletter, we’ve highlighted a few student-led projects from the 2024-2025 academic year to showcase some of the ways Physics students are preparing for their careers through experiential learning at CWU. A special thank you to Paul and Jill Heydron and Walter and Audrey Ulness for their generous support of students through the Heydron/Ulness Scholarship. We are also deeply grateful to the Northwest Medical Physics Center (NMPC) for establishing the Miron Zaini Endowed Scholarship to support students interested in Medical Physics careers. Thank you to everyone who presented in this year’s Physics Career Seminar, and to all our alumni and friends who contributed their time and expertise to support CWU Physics students. Your engagement makes a real difference in the lives of students.
Please stay in touch. We are always glad to hear how you have been doing over the years. One way to stay connected with the department is to join the LinkedIn group for CWU Physics Alumni, Students, Faculty, and Staff. If you are interested in visiting the department or presenting in an upcoming career seminar, please email us at physics@cwu.edu.
All the best,
Erin Craig
Physics Department Chair
Student Highlights From The 2024-2025 Academic Year
Undergraduate research and student projects are at the heart of our physics program. This year, the Observational Astronomy research program, led by Prof. Cassie Fallscheer, was highlighted by CWU in an article and video. In other news, the CWU Wildcat Rocketry Club competed for the fourth time in the national NASA Student Launch Competition. This year’s challenge was to design and launch a rocket capable of collecting environmental and flight data to estimate the probability of astronaut survival in flight. According to Physics major and NASA launch team leader Al Veitas, a grant from foundry10 to CWU Foundation made this possible: “It gave us the opportunity to conduct multiple vehicle tests, allowing us to refine our design and achieve the most successful flight in our club’s history. It also ensured that every team member could travel to witness firsthand the culmination of nine months of hard work and dedication.” Aspiring aerospace engineers at CWU benefit from the mentorship of Prof. Darci Snowden and aerospace engineer Tami King (Blue Origin). If you would like to learn more about the project, you can check out the SOURCE presentation article.
The Medical Physics Educational Initiative, in partnership with the Northwest Medical Physics Center (NMPC), continues to provide opportunities for CWU students to join the rewarding career field of medical physics. The Medical Physics Seminar and Medical Physics Research Team, led by Visiting Professor Mehran Zaini, is an opportunity for students to launch their careers. Recent graduate Caitlin Balmer will begin graduate studies in Medical Physics at Oregon Health Sciences University in the fall, following in the footsteps of other recent CWU graduates who have entered this field. For more information on the initiative, you can visit the article from CWU News. A common thread across all these highlights is community. We couldn’t provide these opportunities and experiences for our talented students without the support of our extended alumni and career network community in the region.
Building an Inclusive Physics Community at CWU
In the early 2010s, CWU adopted recommendations from the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) and American Institute of Physics (AIP) to develop an inclusive and supportive department environment that welcomes all students, including those from traditionally underrepresented groups, to join the Physics community. Our approach emphasized student collaboration spaces, workshop-style introductory courses that foster stronger faculty relationships, and support for student clubs to improve success and inclusivity in physics. As a result of implementing these research-based practices, the number of physics graduates at CWU drastically increased, from fewer than five graduates annually prior to 2015 to an average of 20 graduates per year since 2015.
Since then, the department has moved into a new building with an expanded student collaboration space, still known as the “Sperry Room”, and has continued to grow. We have also become more diverse. Today, 37.5% of our physics faculty are women, well above the national average of 20% (AIP.org). The number of women graduating with CWU Physics degrees has also increased: From 2010 to 2016, only six women (8% of 74 degrees) earned physics degrees. Between 2016 and 2023, that number rose to 25 (21% of 116). Degrees awarded to traditionally underserved student groups (TUSG) also rose from 4% to 11% during the same period. Many of these graduates have gone on to top graduate programs, including the University of Oregon, UC Berkeley, and Arizona State University.
However, we still have work to do. The proportion of degrees awarded to female and TUSG students at CWU remains below already modest national averages. According to AIP.org, around 25% of physics degrees nationally are awarded to women and 15% of students from TUSG.
Dr. Nathan Kuwada, faculty member and former Chair of the CWU College of the Sciences Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, and Anti-racism Committee, has been a leader in efforts to make physics and CWU more inclusive. He plans to launch a new course, Underrepresentation in STEM. This unique course will examine physics and other STEM fields’ history of exclusion and ways students can help shape a more inclusive future.
Just like in a lab, knowledge grows when a problem is identified, variables are carefully considered, and conclusions are drawn. At CWU, we have seen real, measurable results from applying research-based practices to improve student success and inclusivity in physics. The result is more physicists from diverse backgrounds, both at CWU and nationally—and that is a good thing.
Department Highlight: Erin Craig, Department Chair 2022-Present
During the pandemic when Dr. Erin Craig’s children were doing online school, they wrote and performed elaborate plays in the living room. She played roles such as princess, robber, cat, and dragon. This prepared her for the many roles she has taken on as the department chair.
Dr. Craig's research in computational biophysics focuses on dynamic processes in living cells, with projects supported by NSF grants and peer-reviewed publications. Her work aims to provide authentic research experiences for undergraduates.
Beyond research itself, Dr. Craig is celebrated for her exceptional mentorship. She is a steadfast role model for female physics majors. Dr. Craig’s goal is to simplify complex concepts, making them accessible to all students, regardless of their initial preparation. Her patience and kindness create a supportive learning environment where students feel encouraged to ask questions and explore ideas. Her influence extends beyond the classroom, as she actively supports and guides undergraduates in their research endeavors. One student, Stephanie Denton, remarked, "Dr. Craig is an exemplary individual, department head, mentor, and professor. She is genuinely concerned with her students learning the information and she has the ability to make very complex concepts easy for students to understand.”
Dr. Craig has been instrumental in fostering a collaborative and inclusive community, where every student is supported. Her dedication to student growth as individuals and scientists is evident in the numerous success stories of those who have worked with her. Recent graduate Jessica Carder shared, "Dr. Craig was such an amazing mentor to me. I remember showing up my freshman year not knowing much about biophysics, but being enthusiastic to learn, and Dr. Craig was nothing but supportive. Anytime I wanted to go to a conference, or apply for an internship or some funding, she was always there with amazing advice."
Another student, Calvin Sprouse, reflected on their experience in Dr. Craig's research group: "When I joined Dr. Craig's research group as a sophomore I was instantly welcomed and felt like a collaborator in a way that went above my experience in the classroom. Throughout my time at CWU, Dr. Craig's research group always felt like a place that I was welcome. Dr. Craig is not only supportive, but incredibly generous with opportunity. As a part of her research group, I have traveled across the country and been able to experience national collaboration.”
In addition to student mentorship, Dr. Craig has made significant administrative contributions. She revitalized the Dual Degree engineering partnership with WSU, giving students an opportunity to get a BS in physics from CWU and a bachelor’s in engineering from WSU. Her leadership as department chair is marked by professionalism and grace. Dr. Craig manages her responsibilities with a calm and focused demeanor, ensuring that the department runs smoothly and efficiently. Her colleagues appreciate her for making the department feel like an inclusive space by sending welcome emails to all new physics students and organizing quarterly department socials. These efforts have helped create a welcoming and supportive environment for everyone in the department.
Since the Pacific Northwest is famous for its lighthouses, it is fitting that one of Dr. Craig's students referred to her as a "lighthouse in a stormy world." This sentiment perfectly encapsulates her leadership and guidance, making her an invaluable asset to the CWU physics department and CWU.
Career Seminars, 2024-2025
Andy Lawler (Physics B.S., 2012) presented his pathway from being a CWU physics graduate to an applications engineer in the electronics industry.
Colby Neal, Jacob Ferong, Ben Freeman (CWU Physics alumni) presented about careers in semiconductor design and manufacturing at Intel Corporation.
Aaron Woods (CWU Career Services) shared job search resources, CV/resume design, and job interview skills.
Peter Zencak (Physics Classroom Technician) led discussions around how to plan a science outreach event.
We’d love to hear from you! Send an email to physics@cwu.edu if you’d like to visit, give a seminar, or connect over zoom.
Want to learn more about us? Visit our main page www.cwu.edu/physics Go Wildcats!!
