Dedication of Learning Assistant Program in Honor of Dr. Don Chodrow

On Tuesday afternoon, May 15, 2018 the faculty of the Department of Physics and Astronomy gathered along with several of our retired colleagues and the family of Dr. Don Chodrow to unveil a plaque in PCB 2212 to honor him and the contributions made in his name to support our Learning Assistants program. Dr. Chodrow was a beloved colleague and teacher and mentor to not only our students but to his younger colleagues during his 32 year career here at JMU. He came to JMU in 1980 and taught at all levels of our curriculum until his death in June, 2012. At the time of his passing, friends, family, colleagues, and former students joined to endow the Don Chodrow Memorial Scholarship Endowment which now funds scholarships for motivated undergraduate physics majors in our department every year.
In recent years, the department has begun to use Learning Assistants in our introductory physics courses as part of our PhysTEC program to produce more high school physics teachers. These undergraduate students work with professors in the classroom to guide students in PHYS240 and PHYS250 through active learning exercises. The LAs also take a course on science pedagogy to better understand common misconceptions their fellow students have and how to lead them to understanding the material better.
Given Don's dedication to teaching, it seems fitting that a new fund has been created in his honor to support the stipends for the LAs. To make the LAs and their students aware of his impact, we have placed a plaque in the classroom where these courses meet. The unveiling ceremony was planned especially for May 15 since that is Don's birthday and also a day on which his wife, Dr. Ruth Chodrow

Dr. Ruth Chodrow with Don's plaque.

, and her mother and sister could attend. Dr. Bill Ingham, professor emeritus of physics, gave remarks and told stories of the many years he worked with Don. Other faculty also shared their remembrances of his impact on their careers. Finally, Ruth gave us her thought and pointed out how wonderful it was that Don was back in a classroom again.
Thanks to everyone who made this a touching and memorable day.
If you are interested in contributing to the Chodrow Memorial Fund for Physics Learning Assistants, please contact the JMU Foundation or email the us directly at physics@jmu.edu.