GMUGeorge campus Mason Google University Earth 2007 In

GMUGeorge campus, Mason Google University, Earth 2007 In 1965 a small band of rebels left George Mason Junior College which later split from the University of Virginia to form George Mason University. The department began when Eugenie Mielczarek joined George Mason College on a full-time basis in 1965, to become the first woman so appointed to a tenure track position in the Northeast. Two years later, Eugenie hired Dimitris Papaconstantopolous, who later became the Department’s third chair. Dimiris was preceded in the chair position by Bill Johnston who passed away in 1999. In 1977 Bob Ehrlich then joined the department as its 4 th chair. At that time the department of physics Included all of engineering, which was then only a two-year program, which split off from hysics when the first engineering degree program was approved. Aft stepped down as department chair after serving 12 years, Menas Ka d in to chair the department for several years before creatin n proceeded to lead the department between 1990 and 199 ka became chair until 2007, when Bob Ehrlich again George Mason College of the University of Virginia, 1964

Some interesting snippets from early GMU brochures and catalogs “Women are not admitted to the College of Arts and Sciences as candidates for the degree of Bachelor of Arts as pre-professional students or as special students. They may, however, be admitted as candidates for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Bachelor of Science in Physics if they are at least twenty years of age and have completed in an accredited college at least two years (sixty semester-hours) of academic work with satisfactory grades. ” 1960 -1961 brochure on George Mason College “The Admissions Office considers each applicant individually, using the following criteria: Evidence of academic achievement and promise, with acceptable facility in the use of the English language and understanding the fundamental mathematical processes. Evidence of good character and acceptable social habits. ” 1971 -72 George Mason College Catalog, p. 21.

1967

Jeannie Mielczarek, on the occasion of her 35 th year of service (1999) 35 years & they give me a pewter mug & not a gold watch!

Actually, the concept of “extra credit” had not yet been invented in 1967 As an extra credit question on the next exam, I will ask you to spell my name Dimitris Papaconstantopolous, 1967

Faculty Circa 1976 Surrounding Eugenie Mielczarek, the 3 central people are Flinn, Ceperley and Meshkov -- Clockwise from upper left: Papaconstantopolous, Johnston*, Black, Kafatos, Pedroni, Lankford, Keramides, Leiter, and Lieb *deceased

Standing: Lieb, Ellsworth, Gurfein, Kruppa, Johnston, Flinn, Black, Mielczarek, Hannigan, Kowalski, Evans Sitting: Dworzecka, Ehrlich, Kafatos Physics Department, 1983

From left: Lieb, Kowalski, Ellsworth, Mielczarek, Dworzecka, Evans, Ehrlich, Kafatos 1986

GMU Herschel Observatory, located off Braddock Rd, Circa 1975

I hope they like their burgers rare! Bill Lankford 2005 With his CASEP group Bill Lankford, circa 1975, Supervised telescope construction by students

One amazing student project

Could …no that wait, be a. It’s black daytime. hole? . Menas Kafatos looking through telescope, circa 1975

New observatory, 2007

Leonid Ozernoy, 1939 -2002

Harold Geller, Observatory Director, joined faculty in 1992 Merav Opher and grad student Rebecca Evans.

Amazing – we still all talk to each other! Five living department chairs of Physics & Astronomy, 2007 EM: 1965 -1968, WJ: 1968 -1970, DC: 1970 -77, RE: 1977 -1989, MK: 1989 -91, JL: 1991 1999, MD: 1999 -2006, RE: 2006 -

Karen Sauer joined in 2004 Anna Wyczalkowski joined in 2001 Yakir Aharonov joined in 2006 Shobita Satyapal joined in 2001

John Evans and Peter Ceperley at the celebration of their retirement, 2007 Bob Meier joined GMU in 2003 Ernie Barreto joined in 2000 Paul So joined in 1998

Amin Jazaeri receiving a fake diploma from Dr. Menas Kafatos, his thesis advisor, at a celebration following the receipt of his real Ph. D, 2007. Amin joined in 2001 joined in 1980 Jessica Rosenberg, joined in 2007 Merav Opher joined in 2005

Art Poland joined in 2005 Mike Summers joined GMU in 1991 Indu Satija joined in 1987 Yuri Mishin joined in 2000

Becky Ericson in 2005 joined in 1992

Joe Weingartner joined in 2003 Phil Rubin joined in 2003 Robert Oerter joined in 1997 Brian O’Haoloran joined in 2007

Karen Sauer, and her two co-recipients of the first (2007) George Mason Emerging Researcher, Scholar and Creator Awards.

Mike Summers at the reception following his receiving the COS “Celebration of Scholarship award” for 2007

Rachel Dudik defending her Ph D. thesis, Nov 2007