Dr. Charles Henderson appointed to National Academy of Sciences Committee

Dr. Charles HendersonOlga Bonfiglio
College of Arts and Sciences Staff Writer

Dr. Charles Henderson, physics, was appointed as a member of the National Academy of Sciences Committee on Developing Indicators for Undergraduate STEM Education.

He is currently professor of physics education research holding a joint appointment in the Department of Physics and the Mallinson Institute for Science Education at Western Michigan University. He is the co-founder and co-director of the WMU Center for Research on Instructional Change in Postsecondary Education and the senior editor for the Physical Review Special Topics–Physics Education Research.

Prior to WMU, he taught physics courses at Macalester College and at Anoka- Ramsey Community College. He also was a high school physics and chemistry teacher at the International School of Minnesota for two years.

His current research studies the teaching and learning of physics with a focus on the development of theories and strategies for promoting change in the teaching of STEM subjects. These include issues related to the diffusion and adoption of research-based instructional strategies.

Henderson has numerous service and professional recognitions including: member of the National Research Council Committee on Undergraduate Physics Education Research and Implementation, editor of the Physics Education Research Section of the American Journal of Physics (2008-12), president of the Michigan section of the American Association of Physics Teachers (2008-09), chair of the American Association of Physics Teachers Committee on Research in Physics Education, and a member of the Physics Content Advisory Committee for the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification.

Henderson received a B.A. in mathematics and physics from Macalester College, an M.S. in physics and a Ph.D. in physics education from the University of Minnesota.