Physicist named Calif. professor of the year

By Allison Sundaram

Physics professor Phil Kesten was named California Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation on Nov. 17.

"He brings excitement and engagement and enthusiasm to his classes, and that's not just in the classroom, it's outside in his office hours. I think that's a critical part of getting people interested in physics and things in science in general," physics professor and colleague Rich Barber said.

The award, given to one teacher per state, is part of a Carnegie Foundation program to recognize excellence in education. According to the foundation's Web site, winners are chosen based on their performances in four areas: their impact and involvement with students, their approach to teaching, their contributions to their institution and their support from their colleagues and students.

Many of Kesten's students said the award was well deserved.

"Of all the teachers I've had on campus, he's been the most dynamic and interesting," sophomore Landon Reese said. "He's one I can always listen to."

Kesten credits his ability to connect with students to his love of his subject. "I love physics. I love science. I get excited by it, and when I go into the classroom, my excitement is there for everyone to see," he said.

Kesten has taught at Santa Clara since 1990, and is currently an associate provost and chair of the physics department.

In addition to his work in the classroom, Kesten is a vice president at Docutek, which provides the Electronic Reserve, or E-Res, service to Santa Clara and other universities. E-Res was created from a project of Kesten's in the 1990s, based off his observation of students' group learning patterns. The system is used by more than 400 libraries and institutions.

Kesten has also been influential in the development of the residential learning community system, creating the first four-year community. He is currently director of the RLC program on campus.

Honorees were recognized in Washington, D.C., which included a congressional reception in the Library of Congress. Rep. Mike Honda, D-Calif., made an appearance to congratulate Kesten.

The recognition has not spurred Kesten to shake up his formula for teaching.

"This quarter I'm teaching my favorite, the course which is my favorite to teach, the introduction to quantum mechanics, and relativity," he said. "I'm not going to do anything different. I just go and teach it."

Kesten's classroom method includes a willingness to investigate different aspects of a course, and be flexible with the flow of material. "So many puzzles come up, and it will just happen that a student will raise a hand and ask me a question, and the next thing I know we're light years away from the subject that I was going to talk about that day, and that's OK!"

"I have fun with it, that's the bottom line," he said.

Contact Allison Sundaram at (408) 554-4546 or asundaram@scu.edu.