Congratulations to Dr. Beth A. Cunningham on her recent appointment as a Fellow of the American Physical Society (APS), recognized by her peers because of her outstanding contributions to physics. The number of APS Fellows elected each year is limited to no more than one half of one percent of the membership. It is a prestigious recognition by her peers for her outstanding contributions to physics.
The citation on her certificate is: “For efforts supporting teachers and educators in physics at all levels on a global level, and for significant contributions to the physics community in identifying areas of focus in physics education and for promoting equity, diversity and inclusion in physics learning.”
Dr. Cunningham earned her B.S., M.A., and Ph.D in Physics at ɫҹ University. She and her husband, Dr. David Wolfe, who is also a KSU Ph.D alumnus, made a gift to name the Physics Conference Room on the lower level of the Integrated Sciences Building. Their generosity provides students with a state-of-the-art space to meet, study, and more.
A recent press release from the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) provides the following information about Cunningham’s illustrious career:
Cunningham became AAPT Executive Officer of AAPT in 2011, and since that time she has worked within the association to focus on excellence in physics education with particular emphasis on improving the educational and occupational opportunities for women and historically marginalized groups.
Cunningham supported the Project Kaleidoscope Summer Leadership Institutes, the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) Transformations Project, and the U.S. delegation to the I.U.P.A.P. International Conference on Women in Physics. With funding from the National Science Foundation, she co-produced the 2014 video, HERStories: Wisdom and Encouragement from Women in Physics. Leading a committee of women physics and astronomy educators she developed the eAlliances Project in 2017 and is currently the Principal Investigator of the Physics and Astronomy SEA Change Pilot Project.
Cunningham shared, “I am honored to be elected as a Fellow of the APS especially for work in supporting the physics education community and diversity, equity, and inclusion. My efforts would not have been possible without the help of many other physics educators, AAPT members, AAPT staff, and colleagues around the world.”