Alumna Dr. Monica Plisch of the APS Gives Next Physics Careers Seminar

The Fall 2016 Physics Careers seminar series continues on Friday, October 28, 2016 with alumna Dr. Monica Plisch of the American Physical Society:

Time: 11 a.m. on Friday, October 28, 2016 (refreshments served at 10:30 a.m.)

Location: 204 Loomis Laboratory (Interaction Room)

Title: A Career in Physics Education and Diversity

Speaker: Dr. Monica Plisch, Director of Education and Diversity, American Physical Society

Abstract: While I could not have predicted my career path when I started a Ph.D. in physics, I could not be happier with where I ended up, working to advance issues of education and diversity at the American Physical Society. I will share a bit about my career path and discuss several recent projects, including the APS LGBT Climate report, the Physics Teacher Education Coalition, and the Physics Research Mentor Training curriculum. In addition, the I will discuss how we approach our work, including what kinds of questions we ask, how we seek to influence change, and what results have come of our efforts.

Bio: Monica Plisch is Director of Education and Diversity for the American Physical Society (APS). She leads the Physics Teacher Education Coalition (PhysTEC) project, a national effort to address the severe shortage of qualified high school physics teachers. Monica also leads efforts to increase diversity and inclusion in physics graduate education and is project director of the Inclusive Graduate Education Network (IGEN), a NSF INCLUDES pilot project. She led the development of the Physics Research Mentor Training curriculum and leads workshops for research mentors. Her department recently launched the National Mentoring Community and serves as the administrative home of the Conferences for Undergraduate Women in Physics (CUWiP). Dr. Plisch served as the APS staff liaison for the ad hoc Committee on LGBT Issues, which produced an influential report, LGBT Climate in Physics. She was elected an APS Fellow in 2016. Before coming to the APS, Monica led nanoscience education initiatives at Cornell University. She completed her doctoral studies in physics at Cornell and her undergraduate degree in engineering physics at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.

Note: Monica already has a fairly full schedule while she's in Urbana, but she may be available to discuss diversity, education, and/or career opportunities with students. If you would like to meet with her on Friday, Oct. 28, please send me an e-mail, slcooper@illinois.edu, and I'll try to arrange a meeting.

You can see the rest of the Fall 2016 Physics Careers Seminar series here: http://physics.illinois.edu/events/seminars.asp?cal=4014