President Kevin J. Worthen honored 10 members of the College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences during the 2015 Annual University Conference on August 24.
University Professorship Award
Adam T. Woolley
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Woolley is an exceptional scholar, teacher, and university citizen. He is an internationally recognized analytical chemist and has been the recipient of many prestigious external and internal awards, including a Presidential Young Scholar Award. He has published more than 125 articles and has been an investigator on grant awards in excess of $4 million.
Woolley is a concerned and dedicated professor who is equally at home teaching 200 or more students in a general chemistry class or mentoring individual undergraduate and graduate students. He is an outstanding member of the university who manages his time effectively and approaches each assignment with enthusiasm and remarkable attention to detail. Woolley is a wonderful role model and an important contributor to his department, his students, and BYU.
Karl G. Maeser Excellence in Teaching Award
Steven R. Goates
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Goates appropriately balances classroom rigor with reasonable expectations for his students. He believes in empowering students with knowledge; as a result, they leave his courses with a recognition of their personal growth and a sense of having been rewarded for their efforts. He encourages students who are struggling and makes concrete suggestions for their progression.
Goates has been instrumental in developing curriculum within the department: Largely through his efforts, new courses have been designed and implemented that better prepare students for their careers. In short, Goates is an exemplary teacher who consistently blesses his students.
Karl G. Maeser Professional Faculty Excellence Award
Jennifer B. Nielson
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Nielson is a committed professor who consistently strives to provide a solid educational experience for her students. She is rigorous in her approach to organic chemistry, yet she has learned to present complex material at a level that prepares her students for graduate and professional schools as well as for careers in nursing and other sciences. She is an active advocate for science education in the community and has initiated a series of hands-on science events at the Provo Library to spark an interest in science in elementary-age children.
Nielson also provided outreach to under-served students and teachers in Uganda by implementing a self-sustaining teacher-education program. She is a wonderful colleague who follows the model of teaching exemplified by Professor Maeser.
General Education Professorship
Steven G. Wood
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Wood teaches large undergraduate classes in general, organic, and biological chemistry. Both students and colleagues consistently rank him as an outstanding teacher. He has invested hundreds of hours creating online tools to build an understandable tutorial for students learning chemistry, and he obtained a National Science Foundation grant to further develop these tools. This external support allowed him to involve student collaborators, who were instrumental in helping decide which approaches would be the most beneficial to students. These online tools are now important contributors to students’ learning.
Because of his teaching prowess, Wood is a frequent mentor to new and senior faculty. He is a master teacher who genuinely loves his students and the excitement of teaching chemistry.
Religious Education Transfer Professor
Bart J. Kowallis
Geological Sciences
As a consummate university citizen, Kowallis has blessed the university community in many ways, and he has excelled as a professor, student mentor, and administrator. In addition to his assignments within the Department of Geological Sciences, Kowallis has taught family history classes in Religious Education for many years.
Although family history is not his “home,” either academically or professionally, Kowallis is consistently rated as one of the best instructors in that teaching area. He has blessed many students, who appreciate his knowledge and his enthusiasm. His love for and success in teaching within Religious Education serve as an example for other transfer faculty in his college and throughout the university.
Alcuin Fellowship
Matthew R. Linford
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Linford is an especially effective professor in the classroom. He dedicates countless hours to his students, taking the time to walk them through each step in solving a problem and making sure they understand every aspect of the solution. He also collaborates with specialists nationally and internationally to ensure his students receive the best education possible.
In addition to teaching his graduate and undergraduate students, Linford enjoys conducting research and thrives on the creative processes that make up chemistry. His contributions of excellence truly enrich the BYU community.
Young Scholar Award
Daniel H. Ess
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Ess makes significant contributions to the field of chemistry. He develops and utilizes quantum-chemistry methods in his research and has published nearly 50 peer-reviewed scientific papers. For his research, Ess has been awarded several grants from the Department of Energy, the National Institutes of Health, and the chemical industry. His research’s unique emphasis of making experimental predictions has resulted in several scientific collaborations around the world.
While he conducts such unique research, Ess also makes teaching a great priority. His research group is comprised of postdoctoral, graduate, and undergraduate students, and he takes the time to teach and mentor each of them. His love for chemistry is contagious and a great contribution to BYU.
BYU Class of 1949 Young Faculty Award
Jaron C. Hansen
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Hansen’s love for teaching and for his students is apparent in every class. He conducts research with his students to delve into the finer points of chemistry and make new discoveries. He makes sure to involve his students at every turn, so they can gain as much from the research as he does.
Hansen’s primary area of focus is in air sampling and renewable energy, which has lead to important research in monitoring air pollution in Southern California. He keeps his students active and excited in the research, while he simultaneously helps them develop a love for chemistry.
Technology Transfer Award
Steven W. Graves
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Graves’ contributions to the medical field have been vital to the Cancer Research Center and to medicine as a whole. He has been researching the effects of sodium pumps in various medical situations, including treating disease and during childbirth. His studies provide evidence that will aid mothers and children affected by preeclampsia.
Additionally, Graves has contributed to the discovery of new serum biomarkers that diagnose Alzheimer’s disease. He is a blessing to medical research and a true asset to BYU.
Lawrence K. Egbert Teaching and Learning Faculty Fellowship
Kent L. Gee
Physics and Astronomy
Gee’s dedication to his students is inspiring. He puts in a consistent effort to positively impact each of his students in at least one way. He has a true passion for teaching and makes sure to include students in every aspect of his research.
Gee’s research group is comprised of multiple concurrent students, and together with his research group he has published over 80 articles and proceedings papers. His findings have attracted the attention of many important organizations: He has received funding from the Office of Naval Research, NASA, the Air Force Research Laboratory, the NSF, and several industry sponsors, including ATK Space Systems.