Gus L.W. Hart and Jennifer B. Nielson have accepted appointments by Academic Vice President James R. Rasband as new associate deans in the BYU College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences. They will serve with the newly appointed dean C. Shane Reese.
Thomas W. Sederberg, who served for twelve years as an associate dean, retired May 31, 2017. Bart J. Kowallis, who served as an associate dean for more than eight years, will return to full-time teaching and research in the Department of Geological Sciences.
Hart received his PhD in physics from the University of California, Davis in 1999 and has been teaching in the BYU Department of Physics and Astronomy since 2006. His research foci include high-throughput computational materials science, developing algorithms for alloy modeling, thermodynamic simulations, lattice-configuration enumeration, and using compressive sensing for building physical models.
“Gus is an internationally recognized scholar and brings tremendous energy to his teaching, research and service. He has been consistent in maintaining funding for his research program and has been an amazing mentor to students of all levels, undergraduate to graduate to postdoctoral researchers,” said Reese.
Nielson received her PhD in chemistry from the University of California, San Diego in 1997. She came to BYU as a teaching professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry in 2004, and she currently serves on the BYU Faculty Advisory Council.
“Jennifer brings enthusiasm and leadership in teaching, science training, and higher education. She has worked in a variety of roles within the university,” said Reese. “Her efforts in outreach to the broader scientific community is a wonderful asset to the college.”
Hart and Nielson will join Dean Reese as the new CPMS leadership effective July 1, 2017.
“The diversity of talents among the associate deans covers a broad spectrum, and we expect to be sponge-like learners as we grow into these new appointments,” said Reese.