The Physics Department offers a range of courses, including astronomy, introductory physics and courses for students who major or minor in physics. The department faculty are active in research activities, which include studies of the Aurora Borealis and ionospheric air glow, martensitic phase transitions and shape memory alloys, computer studies of complex molecules and theoretical studies in general relativity. To contact the Physics Department, call 906-227-2450, fax 906-227-2474 or e-mail physics@nmu.edu.

Building in black and white

History

Between 1899 and 1962, physics was taught under the label "physical sciences." Classes were taught in the Peter White Hall of Science (pictured right), which was remodeled in the 1950s. By the early '60s, it was obvious that a new facility was needed and the Science Building was constructed and opened in 1966.

The physics faculty has remained around five members since the 1960s. The introduction of computer courses, which occurred during the mid-1970s, was a significant change for the department. In 1972, a Sprinkle telescope was donated to the university and an observatory was placed in operation three years later. The addition of an astronomy class had drawn non-majors to lectures of 50-80 students. One change that has occurred in recent years is the shift from lecture-style courses to lab courses.

The Physics Department offers courses for majors and minors in other curricula: engineering, allied health sciences, biology, chemistry and education. It also offers courses that meet the natural sciences/mathematics liberal studies requirements.

Source: Pages 318-19 of A Sense of Time by Russell Magnaghi.

Physics Faculty in Chronological Order.pdf

The following links provide listings of regular department teaching faculty from 1962 through the present. This information was extracted from personal contacts, NMU directories and yearbooks, and is thus only approximate and should not be construed to represent official employment records. If any additions or corrections are noted, please contact Dr. David Donovan (ddonovan@nmu.edu).  Many thanks to Lois Ralph who researched and prepared these records. 

 

Physics Faculty by Academic Year

1962-1963

Donald Baker, Professor

Gail Griffith, ½ time Assistant Professor

Glenn Westin, Instructor

 

Department Head: Donald Baker

 

  

1963-1964

Donald Baker, Professor

Phyllis Gildersleeve, ½ time Instructor

Douglas Williams, Assistant Professor

 

Department Head: Donald Baker

 

  

 

  

 

  

1964-1965

Donald Baker, Professor

Phyllis Gildersleeve, ½ time Instructor

Duane Starner, Associate Professor

Douglas Williams, Assistant Professor

 

                   

 

 

Department Head: Donald Baker

  

1965-1966

Donald Baker, Professor

Aaron Cohen, Assistant Professor

Hugh Kahler, Assistant Professor (started in Feb)

Edward Monahan, Assistant Professor

Duane Starner, Associate Professor (resigned Jan 31)

 

Department Head: Donald Baker

 

  

   

  

 

  

 1966-1967

Donald Baker, Professor

Aaron Cohen, Assistant Professor

Ruben Hoyer, Instructor

Edward Monahan, Assistant Professor

Walter Weller, Assistant Professor

 

Department Head: Donald Baker

 

  

1967-1968

Donald Baker, Professor

Richard Hohly, Assistant Professor

Hugh Kahler, Assistant Professor

Edward Monahan, Assistant Professor

Robert Wagner, Professor

 

Department Head: Robert Wagner

 

  

 

  

 

  

1968-1969

Donald Baker, Professor

Duane Fowler, Assistant Professor

Hugh Kahler, Assistant Professor

Robert Olness, Assistant Professor

William Ralph, Assistant Professor

Robert Wagner, Professor

 

Department Head: Robert Wagner

Department Secretary: Rosemary Weza

 

  

1969-1970

Donald Baker, Professor

Duane Fowler, Assistant Professor

Hugh Kahler, Assistant Professor

William Ralph, Assistant Professor

Robert Wagner, Professor

 

 

Department Head: Robert Wagner

Department Secretary: Rosemary Weza

 

  

 

  

 

  

1970-1971

Donald Baker, Professor

Duane Fowler, Assistant Professor

Hugh Kahler, Assistant Professor

William Ralph, Assistant Professor

Robert Wagner, Professor

 

Department Head: Robert Wagner

Department Secretary: Kathleen Krueger

 

  

1971-1972

Duane Fowler, Assistant Professor

William Ralph, Assistant Professor

Temple Smith, Assistant Professor

Fred Trentelman, Assistant Professor

Robert Wagner, Professor

 

Department Head: Robert Wagner

Department Secretary: Cynthia Baldwin

 

  

 

  

    

  

1972-1973

William Ralph, Assistant Professor

Donald Schnitzler

Temple Smith, Assistant Professor

Ray Van Ausdal

Robert Wagner, Professor

 

Duane Fowler, Assistant Professor (On leave)

Fred Trentelman, Assistant Professor (On

leave)

 

Department Head: Robert Wagner

Department Secretary: Nancy Gullett

 

  

1973-1974

Duane Fowler, Assistant Professor

William Ralph, Assistant Professor

Temple Smith, Assistant Professor

Fred Trentelman, Assistant Professor

Robert Wagner, Professor

 

 

 

 

 

Department Head: Robert Wagner

Department Secretary:

 

  

  

  

  

  

1974-1975

Duane Fowler, Assistant Professor

William Ralph, Assistant Professor

John Sorenson, Instructor

Fred Trentelman, Assistant Professor

Robert Wagner, Professor

 

Temple Smith, Assistant Professor (On leave)

 

Department Head: Robert Wagner

Department Secretary: Helen Willison

 

  

1975-1976

Donald Chodrow, Assistant Professor

Duane Fowler, Assistant Professor

William Ralph, Associate Professor

Dan Richards, Instructor

Fred Trentelman, Instructor

 

Temple Smith, Assistant Professor (On leave)

 

Department Head: William Ralph

Department Secretary: Barb Fitzpatrick

 

  

    

  

 

  

1976-1977

Duane Fowler, Assistant Professor

William Ralph, Associate Professor

Temple Smith, Assistant Professor

Alan Spero, Assistant Professor

Fred Trentelman, Assistant Professor

 

Department Head: William Ralph

Department Secretary: Barb Fitzpatrick

 

  

1977-1978

Duane Fowler, Assistant Professor

William Ralph, Associate Professor

Temple Smith, Associate Professor

Alan Spero, Assistant Professor

Fred Trentelman, Associate Professor

 

Department Head: William Ralph

Department Secretary: Janet Butler

 

  

 

  

 

  

1978-1979

Joseph Finck, Instructor

Duane Fowler, Assistant Professor

William Ralph, Associate Professor

Alan Spero, Assistant Professor

Fred Trentelman, Associate Professor

 

Temple Smith, Associate Professor (On leave)

 

Department Head: William Ralph

Department Secretary: Janet Butler

 

  

1979-1980

Duane Fowler, Associate Professor

William Ralph, Associate Professor

Temple Smith, Professor

Alan Spero, Assistant Professor

Fred Trentelman, Associate Professor

 

 

 

Department Head: Duane Fowler

Department Secretary: Janet Butler

 

  

 

  

 

  

 1980-1981

Joseph Finck, Instructor

Duane Fowler, Associate Professor

Temple Smith, Professor

Alan Spero, Associate Professor

Fred Trentelman, Associate Professor

 

William Ralph, Associate Professor (On leave)

 

Department Head: Duane Fowler

Department Secretary:

 

  

1981-1982

Joseph Finck, Instructor

Duane Fowler, Associate Professor

William Ralph, Associate Professor

 

Temple Smith, Professor (On leave Winter)

Fred Trentelman, Associate Professor (On

leave Fall)

 

Department Head: Duane Fowler

Department Secretary: Patricia Nolan

 

  

 

  

 

  

1982-1983

Duane Fowler, Associate Professor

William Ralph, Professor

Temple Smith, Professor

Fred Trentelman, Associate Professor

 

Department Head: Duane Fowler

Department Secretary: Caren Dyal

 

  

1983-1984

Duane Fowler, Professor

William Ralph, Professor

Temple Smith, Professor

Fred Trentelman, Associate Professor

 

Department Head: Duane Fowler

Department Secretary: Caren Dyal

 

  

 

  

  

  

 1984-1985

Duane Fowler, Professor

William Ralph, Professor

Temple Smith, Professor

Fred Trentelman, Professor

 

 

Department Head: Duane Fowler

Department Secretary: Caren Dyal

 

  

1985-1986

Duane Fowler, Professor

D. Edward Neuenschwander, Assistant

Professor

William Ralph, Professor

Fred Trentelman, Professor

 

Department Head: Duane Fowler

Department Secretary: Caren Dyal

 

  

 

  

 

  

1986-1987

Duane Fowler, Professor

David Lucas, Assistant Professor

William Ralph, Professor

Fred Trentelman, Professor

 

 

 

Department Head: Duane Fowler

Department Secretary: Caren Dyal

 

  

1987-1988

Manfred Kluckner, Assistant Professor Fred

David Lucas, Assistant Professor

William Ralph, Professor

Fred Trentelman, Professor

 

Duane Fowler, Professor (On leave)

 

Department Head: William Ralph

Department Secretary: Patty Sarvello

 

  

 

  

  

  

1988-1989

Duane Fowler, Professor

Manfred Kluckner, Assistant Professor

David Lucas, Assistant Professor

William Ralph, Professor

Fred Trentelman Professor

 

Department Head: Duane Fowler

Department Secretary: Patty Sarvello

 

  

1989-1990

Duane Fowler, Professor

Manfred Kluckner, Assistant Professor

David Lucas, Assistant Professor

William Ralph, Professor

Fred Trentelman, Professor

 

Department Head: Duane Fowler

Department Secretary: Patty Sarvello

 

  

 

  

 

  

1990-1991

Duane Fowler, Professor

Manfred Kluckner, Assistant Professor

David Lucas, Associate Professor

William Ralph, Professor

Fred Trentelman, Professor

 

 

 

 

Department Head: Duane Fowler

Department Secretary: Patty Sarvello

 

  

1991-1992

Duane Fowler, Professor

Najma Hafiz, Assistant Professor

Manfred Kluckner, Assistant Professor (Left in

Dec)

David Lucas, Associate Professor

Fred Trentelman, Professor

 

William Ralph, Professor (On Sabbatical)

 

Department Head: Duane Fowler

Department Secretary: Roberta Bailey

 

  

 

  

 

  

1992-1993

David Donovan, Assistant Professor

Duane Fowler, Professor

Najma Hafiz, Assistant Professor

William Ralph, Professor

Fred Trentelman, Professor

 

David Lucas, Associate Professor (On

Sabbatical)

 

Department Head: Duane Fowler

Department Secretary: Roberta Bailey

 

  

1993-1994

David Donovan, Assistant Professor

Duane Fowler, Professor

David Lucas, Associate Professor

William Ralph, Professor

Fred Trentelman, Professor

 

 

 

 

Department Head: Duane Fowler

Department Secretary: Sally Casimir

 

  

 

  

 

  

1994-1995

David Donovan, Assistant Professor

Duane Fowler, Professor

David Lucas, Associate Professor

William Ralph, Professor

Fred Trentelman, Professor

 

Department Head: Duane Fowler

Department Secretary: Sally Casimir

 

  

1995-1996

David Donovan, Assistant Professor

Duane Fowler, Professor

David Lucas, Associate Professor

William Ralph, Professor

Fred Trentelman, Professor

 

Department Head: Duane Fowler

Department Secretary: Sally Casimir

 

  

 

  

 

  

1996-1997

David Donovan, Assistant Professor

Duane Fowler, Professor

Mark Jacobs, Assistant Professor

David Lucas, Associate Professor

Frank Underdown (Visiting Instructor, winter)

 

Fred Trentelman, Professor (On leave)

 

Department Head: Duane Fowler

Department Secretary: Sally Casimir

 

  

1997-1998

David Donovan, Associate Professor

Duane Fowler, Professor

Mark Jacobs, Assistant Professor

David Lucas, Professor

Fred Trentelman, Professor

 

 

 

Department Head: Duane Fowler

Department Secretary: Sally Casimir

 

  

  

  

  

  

1998-1999

Omar Bjarki (Visiting Instructor, winter)

David Donovan, Associate Professor

Duane Fowler, Professor

Mark Jacobs, Assistant Professor

David Lucas, Professor

Wil Slough (Visiting Instructor, fall)

 

Fred Trentelman, Professor (On leave)

 

Department Head: Duane Fowler

Department Secretary: Sally Casimir

 

  

1999-2000

David Donovan, Associate Professor

Duane Fowler, Professor

Mark Jacobs, Assistant Professor

David Lucas, Professor

Neil Russell, Assistant Professor

 

 

 

 

Department Head: Duane Fowler

Department Secretary: Sally Casimir

 

  

 

  

 

  

2000-2001

Duane Fowler, Professor

Mark Jacobs, Assistant Professor

David Lucas, Professor

Neil Russell, Assistant Professor

Frank Underdown, (Visiting Professor, winter)

 

David Donovan, Associate Professor (On

leave winter)

 

Department Head: David Lucas

Department Secretary: Sally Casimir

 

  

2001-2002

David Donovan, Associate Professor

Duane Fowler, Professor

Mark Jacobs, Assistant Professor

David Lucas, Professor

Neil Russell, Assistant Professor

 

 

 

 

Department Head: David Lucas

Department Secretary: Sally Casimir

 

  

 

  

 

  

2002-2003

David Donovan, Associate Professor

Duane Fowler, Professor

Mark Jacobs, Associate Professor

David Lucas, Professor

Neil Russell, Assistant Professor

 

Department Head: David Lucas

Department Secretary: Sally Casimir

 

  

2003-2004

(Department merged with math)

David Donovan, Professor

Duane Fowler, Professor

Mark Jacobs, Associate Professor

David Lucas, Professor

Neil Russell, Assistant Professor

 

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

2004-2005

(Department merged with math)

David Donovan, Professor

Duane Fowler, Professor (Fall only)

Mark Jacobs, Associate Professor

David Lucas, Professor

Neil Russell, Assistant Professor

 

  

2005-2006

(Department merged with math)

David Donovan, Professor

Mark Jacobs, Associate Professor

David Lucas, Professor

Neil Russell, Associate Professor

Will Tireman, Assistant Professor

 

  

  

  

  

  

2006-2007

David Donovan, Professor

Mark Jacobs, Associate Professor

David Lucas, Professor

Will Tireman, Assistant Professor

 

Neil Russell, Associate Professor (On

Sabbatical - no replacement)

 

Department Head: David Lucas

Department Secretary: Kristi Harvala

 

  

2007-2008

David Donovan, Professor

Mark Jacobs, Associate Professor

David Lucas, Professor

Neil Russell, Associate Professor

Will Tireman, Assistant Professor

 

 

 

Department Head: David Lucas

Department Secretary: Kristi Harvala

 

  

 

  

 

  

2008-2009

David Donovan, Professor

Mark Jacobs, Associate Professor

David Lucas, Professor

Neil Russell, Associate Professor

Will Tireman, Assistant Professor

 

 

 

Department Head: David Lucas

Department Secretary: Kristi Harvala

 

  

2009-2010

David Donovan, Professor

David Lucas, Professor

Neil Russell, Associate Professor

Will Tireman, Assistant Professor

 

Mark Jacobs, Associate Professor (On

Sabbatical - no replacement)

 

Department Head: David Lucas

Department Secretary: Kristi Harvala

 

  

 

  

 

  

2010-2011

David Donovan, Professor

Mark Jacobs, Associate Professor

David Lucas, Professor

Neil Russell, Professor

Will Tireman, Assistant Professor

 

Department Head: David Lucas

Department Secretary: Kristi Harvala (Fall)

Julie Downs (Winter)
 

2011-2012

David Donovan, Professor

Mark Jacobs, Associate Professor

David Lucas, Professor

Neil Russell, Professor

Will Tireman, Associate Professor

 

 

Department Head: David Lucas

Department Secretary: Julie Downs

 

  

 

  

 

  

2012-2013

David Donovan, Professor

Mark Jacobs, Associate Professor

David Lucas, Professor

Neil Russell, Professor

Will Tireman, Associate Professor

 

 

 

Department Head: David Lucas

Department Secretary: Georgia Tillotson

 

  

2013-2014

David Donovan, Professor

Mark Jacobs, Associate Professor

David Lucas, Professor

Matthew Steele (Visiting Assistant Professor)

Will Tireman, Associate Professor

 

Neil Russell, Professor (On leave)

 

Department Head: David Lucas

Department Secretary: Georgia Tillotson

 

  

  

  

  

  

2014-2015

David Donovan, Professor

Mark Jacobs, Associate Professor

David Lucas, Professor

Neil Russell, Professor

Will Tireman, Associate Professor

 

 

Department Head: David Lucas

Department Secretary: Georgia Tillotson

 

  

2015-2016

David Donovan, Professor

Mark Jacobs, Associate Professor

David Lucas, Professor (Fall only)

Neil Russell, Professor

Will Tireman Associate Professor

 

Department Head: David Lucas (Fall)

Faculty Chair: David Donovan (Winter)

Department Secretary: Georgia Tillotson

 

  

 

  

 

  

2016-2017

David Donovan, Professor

Mark Jacobs, Associate Professor

Patrick “Rick” Mengyan, Assistant Professor

Neil Russell, Professor

Will Tireman, Associate Professor

 

Department Head: David Donovan

Department Secretary: Georgia Tillotson

 

  

2017-2018

David Donovan, Professor

Mark Jacobs, Associate Professor

Patrick “Rick” Mengyan, Assistant Professor

Neil Russell, Professor

Will Tireman, Professor

 

Department Head: David Donovan

Department Secretary: Georgia Tillotson

 

  

 

  

 

  

2018-2019

Yunhua Ding, Visiting Assistant Professor

David Donovan, Professor

Mark Jacobs, Associate Professor

Neil Russell, Professor

Patrick “Rick” Mengyan, Assistant Professor

 

Will Tireman, Professor (On Sabbatical)

 

Department Head: David Donovan

Department Secretary: Michelle Nichols

 

  

2019-2020

David Donovan, Professor

Mark Jacobs, Associate Professor

Patrick “Rick” Mengyan, Assistant Professor

Neil Russell, Professor

Will Tireman, Professor

 

 

 

Department Head: David Donovan

Department Secretary: Michelle Nichols

 

  

 

  

 

  

2020-2021

David Donovan, Professor

Mark Jacobs, Associate Professor

Patrick “Rick” Mengyan, Assistant Professor

Neil Russell, Professor

Will Tireman, Professor

 

 

 

Department Head: David Donovan

Department Secretary: Michelle Nichols

2021-2022

David Donovan, Professor

Mark Jacobs, Associate Professor

Patrick “Rick” Mengyan, Associate Professor

Neil Russell, Professor

Will Tireman, Professor

 

 

 

Department Head: David Donovan

Department Secretary: Michelle Nichols

 

  

 

  

2022-2023

David Donovan, Professor

Mark Jacobs, Associate Professor

Patrick “Rick” Mengyan, Associate Professor

Neil Russell, Professor

Will Tireman, Professor

 

 

 

Department Head: David Donovan

Department Secretary: Michelle Nichols
 
   
   

Page last updated 5-9-22

  

Please send any comments or questions to mnichols@nmu.edu

  

University Business Hours

University business hours are 8 a.m.–5 p.m. during the fall and winter semesters (late August through early May) and 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. during the summer (early May through late August). Northern Michigan University is located in the Eastern time zone.

Campus Location

The Physics Department is located at 2515 The Science Building, which is accessible from Elizabeth Harden Drive (see campus map, number 131). Parking areas for the complex can be reached off of the Harden Drive and Center Street entrances. 

Mailing Address

Physics Department
Northern Michigan University
1401 Presque Isle Avenue
Marquette, MI 49855