Early Life and Academic Path
Dr. Delilah Gates is a theoretical physicist whose work focuses on black hole physics and the geometry of spacetime. She earned dual bachelor’s degrees in Physics and Mathematics from the University of Maryland, College Park in 2015. She later completed her Ph.D. in Physics at Harvard University in 2021, where she studied the behavior of high-spin black holes and the radiation emitted near their horizons.
After earning her doctorate, Delilah Gates became a postdoctoral fellow with the Princeton Gravity Initiative and later a CfA Postdoctoral Fellow at the Black Hole Initiative, continuing her research on black hole spin, near-horizon symmetries, and observational signatures of extreme gravitational environments.

Scientific Contributions
Dr. Gates’ research explores how black holes behave when spinning near their theoretical limits. Her work uses analytic and semi-analytic methods to study:

Near-horizon conformal symmetry
Critical null geodesics
Radiation signatures around Kerr black holes
Constraints on black hole spin
These contributions help scientists interpret data from observatories such as the Event Horizon Telescope, which aims to understand black hole structure through direct imaging and electromagnetic signatures.

Contributions to the National Society of Black Physicists (NSBP)
Inaugural Speaker for the NSBP Innovate Seminar Series
One of Dr. Gates’ most visible contributions to the National Society of Black Physicists was serving as the inaugural speaker for the NSBP Innovate Seminar Series in July 2020. The series was created as a platform for Black physicists to share their research in a clear, accessible way with the broader NSBP community.

Her talk, titled “Observable Blueshift from Circular Equatorial Orbiters around Kerr Black Holes,” introduced cutting-edge black hole research to a wide audience and helped establish the seminar series as a space for scientific exchange, mentorship, and visibility for Black physicists.

Advancing Representation and Community
By being selected as the first speaker in the series, Delilah became a symbol of the next generation of Black physicists pushing the boundaries of gravitational theory. Her participation supported NSBP’s mission to:
Highlight excellence among Black physicists
Provide community and visibility for early-career researchers
Encourage scientific engagement across career stages
Her ongoing advocacy for diversity and inclusion in physics aligns closely with NSBP’s long-standing goals of expanding representation and supporting Black scientists across all subfields.

Legacy and Ongoing Impact
Dr. Delilah Gates stands out as a leading early-career Black physicist whose work bridges high-level theoretical physics and community empowerment. Her contributions to NSBP—especially her role in launching the Innovate Seminar Series—underscore her influence as both a scientist and a leader.
As she continues her research on black hole physics and her involvement in academic and outreach communities, Gates remains an important figure in contemporary Black scientific history.


References
Future Faculty in the Physical Sciences – Princeton Gravity Initiative
Provides Gates’ academic background, Ph.D. completion year, research focus, and postdoctoral role at Princeton.
University of Maryland Department of Physics – “Meet Delilah Gates”
Confirms her dual bachelor’s degrees in Physics and Mathematics (2015), undergraduate achievements, and early commitment to supporting underrepresented groups in STEM.
Black Hole Initiative – Harvard University
Details her postdoctoral fellowship, research areas (black hole spin, near-horizon geometry), and academic trajectory after Harvard.
APS CUWiP 2020 Speaker Profile
Provides additional context on her research interests, including extremal black hole geometries, black hole binaries, and observational signatures for the Event Horizon Telescope.

Warren E. Henry stands as one of the most influential African-American physicists of the 20th century, a pioneer whose work in magnetism and superconductivity helped expand the boundaries of modern physics. His career not only advanced scientific understanding but also carved out space for Black excellence in fields that had long excluded African-American scholars.

Early Life and Education
Born to Tuskegee alumni in Alabama, Henry grew up in a community shaped by Black educational achievement and resilience. He earned his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the University of Chicago in 1941—an extraordinary accomplishment at a time when African-Americans faced severe barriers to advanced scientific training.

Despite his exceptional credentials, Henry encountered systemic racism that limited his access to research positions. Undeterred, he turned to historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), where he taught and mentored the next generation of Black scientists. His presence in these institutions strengthened the scientific foundation of Black higher education during a pivotal era.

Career Highlights
Over nearly seven decades, Henry became one of the most respected African-American scientists in the United States. His research in magnetism and superconductivity contributed to foundational knowledge in condensed matter physics, and his publications influenced both academic and applied science.

At Howard University—one of the nation’s most prominent HBCUs—Henry served as a professor and scientific leader. His work there not only advanced physics but also expanded opportunities for Black students to enter STEM fields, making him a central figure in the growth of Black scientific scholarship.
Legacy

Warren E. Henry passed away on October 31, 2001, leaving behind a legacy defined by intellectual brilliance and unwavering perseverance. He is remembered not only for his scientific achievements but also for breaking racial barriers in American research institutions and elevating the role of Black scientists in national scientific discourse.
His life remains a powerful testament to the impact of African-American innovators who pushed forward both scientific progress and the broader struggle for equality.

References
American Physical Society. “Warren E. Henry.” APS Physics.
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). “Warren E. Henry: Pioneering Physicist.”
The HistoryMakers. “Warren Henry Biography.”
Howard University Archives, Faculty Records.

Who Is Dr. Warren E. Collins?
Dr. Warren E. Collins is a respected physicist and professor at Fisk University, where he teaches in the Department of Life and Physical Sciences. He is known for his work in materials science, chemical physics, and solid-state physics, and he also has a strong background in nuclear physics. His career reflects both scientific excellence and a deep commitment to educating the next generation of scientists.

Before joining Fisk University, Dr. Collins worked at some of the most prestigious research institutions in the United States, including:

• Bell Laboratories – a world-renowned center for innovation in physics and engineering
• Los Alamos National Laboratory – a major national research facility known for advanced physics and materials research

These experiences helped shape his expertise and prepared him to build strong research programs at Fisk.

Research Contributions
Dr. Collins’ research spans several important areas of physics:

Materials Science
He studies how different materials behave at the atomic and molecular levels. This work is essential for developing new technologies, from electronics to energy systems.

Chemical Physics
His work explores how physical principles shape chemical reactions and material properties.

Solid-State Physics
This field focuses on the physical properties of solids—especially crystals and semiconductors—which are the foundation of modern electronics.

Nuclear Physics Background
Earlier in his career, Dr. Collins contributed to nuclear research programs, demonstrating his ability to work across multiple branches of physics. His broad expertise allows him to connect concepts from nuclear science to materials research, giving students a richer understanding of how physics disciplines overlap.

Fisk University’s Physics Program
Fisk University is known for producing Black scientists and for its strong graduate programs in STEM. The Master of Science in Physics program is designed to:

• Prepare students for Ph.D. programs
• Build strong foundations in theoretical and experimental physics
• Encourage critical thinking, problem-solving, and scientific communication
• Support careers in research labs, industry, and education

The program is also part of the well-known Fisk–Vanderbilt Master’s-to-Ph.D. Bridge Program, one of the nation’s most successful pathways for increasing the number of underrepresented students earning doctorates in STEM fields.

Dr. Collins’ presence strengthens this program by offering students:

• Access to advanced research opportunities
• Mentorship from an experienced physicist
• Training in materials science and solid-state physics
• Connections to national laboratories and research networks

Why Dr. Collins’ Work Matters
Dr. Collins plays a key role in expanding opportunities for Black students in physics—a field where representation has historically been low. His contributions matter because he:

• Helps build research capacity at an HBCU
• Mentors students who go on to graduate school and STEM careers
• Connects Fisk University to national research institutions
• Strengthens the pipeline of Black physicists and engineers
  

His career shows students that excellence in physics is not limited by background or institution—it grows wherever strong mentorship and opportunity exist.

References
Fisk University – Faculty Profile: Warren E. Collins
Fisk University – Master of Science in Physics Program Overview
Los Alamos National Laboratory – Historical Research Contributions
Bell Laboratories – Research Legacy in Physics and Engineering

A Trailblazer in Physics, Education, and the Advancement of Black Scientists

Dr. Matthew Edwards stands as a monumental figure in the ongoing legacy of Black excellence in STEM. A physicist, educator, mentor, and national leader, he has spent more than five decades expanding opportunity, advancing scientific knowledge, and uplifting generations of Black scholars. In 2024, Dr. Edwards achieved a historic milestone when he was named a Fellow of the National Society of Black Physicists (NSBP)—one of the organization’s highest honors. He is the first faculty member from Alabama A&M University (AAMU) to receive this distinction, joining a select group of only 53 Fellows inducted since 1992.

This lifetime honor recognizes not only his scientific achievements but also his profound impact on diversity, mentorship, and the advancement of Black physicists nationwide.

A Legacy of Leadership and Service
Since joining AAMU in 2002, Dr. Edwards has served as a professor of physics, former dean of the School of Arts and Sciences (2007–2011), and current president of the Alabama Academy of Science. In 2006, he founded STEM Day, an annual event that continues to inspire young students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Throughout his career, he has guided eight students to advanced degrees in physics—five earning Ph.D.s and three completing master’s degrees. He has served on more than 20 thesis and dissertation committees, published 51 refereed papers, and delivered over 60 conference presentations. His research spans electro-optics of microemulsions, spatial soliton wave theory, and dopant effects on pyroelectric behavior in organic thin films.

Scientific Contributions
Dr. Edwards currently leads a collaborative research program with Brookhaven National Laboratory, studying how perovskite dopants influence the pyroelectric coefficient of PVDF thin films—research with significant implications for sensor science and detector technology.
He continues to teach quantum mechanics, electricity and magnetism, physical science, and mathematical methods, sharing his passion for physics with both undergraduate and graduate students.

A Historic NSBP Fellowship
Dr. Edwards’ elevation to NSBP Fellow was announced ahead of the society’s annual meeting in San Jose, California. His nomination came from a former NSBP president and fellow—now chair of Physics and Astronomy at Howard University, where Edwards earned his master’s and Ph.D.
Upon learning of his selection—after discovering the notification in his junk mail—Dr. Edwards described feeling “overjoyed,” a rare moment of unguarded celebration from a scholar known for his humility.

Colleagues across the nation celebrated the achievement. Dr. Padmaja Guggilla, chair of AAMU’s Physics Department, praised his “indelible mark on both our University and the broader scientific community,” noting the historic significance of his fellowship during AAMU’s 150th anniversary.

A Journey Rooted in Curiosity and Community
Dr. Edwards’ love for mathematics and physics began in rural North Carolina, where he grew up near Goldsboro. He discovered mathematics in sixth grade and fell in love with physics in high school. He earned his bachelor’s degree in engineering physics from North Carolina A&T State University, followed by his master’s and Ph.D. from Howard University—two institutions central to the legacy of Black scientific achievement.
Before joining AAMU, he taught at the University of Pittsburgh and spent 26 years at HBCUs including Spelman College and Fayetteville State University, shaping the lives of countless students.

A Continuing Legacy
Looking ahead, Dr. Edwards plans to continue his research in quantum physics, quantum computing, and pyroelectric effects while mentoring students and colleagues. As he reflects on his life’s work, he frames his achievements as part of a larger legacy:
“Throughout my career, my goal has been to honor my lineage—my family, colleagues, and students—by using my love for mathematics to contribute to science, education, and the broader community.”

References
Alabama A&M University. (2024). Edwards Named Fellow of the National Society of Black Physicists. Office of Marketing & Public Relations.

National Society of Black Physicists (NSBP). (1992–2024). NSBP Fellows Program and Historical Inductees.

Guggilla, P. (2024). Statement on the elevation of Dr. Matthew Edwards to NSBP Fellow. Alabama A&M University, Department of Physics.

Brookhaven National Laboratory. (2024). Collaborative Research on Pyroelectric Thin Films.

Edwards, M. (2002–2024). Scholarly publications, conference presentations, and academic service records. Alabama A&M University.

Rodgers greatly admires Albert Einstein, who, in addition to discovering new ideas in physics such as the theory of relativity, also campaigned for world peace and wrote about the society around him. Dr. Rodgers is a strong advocate of outreach and public engagement and can often be seen at Hawk-Eyes on Science and Hawk-Eyes in Space venues with colleague Dale Stille. He is a mentor for undergraduate students at the Iowa Sciences Academy.
Dr. Vincent Rodgers' twin brother Dr. Victor G. J. Rodgers, does research in Biochemical Engineering and is a professor in bioengineering at the University of California Riverside. 

He earned a BS in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1975 and a PhD from the University of Southern California in 1981. From 1980 to 1986, he was a Principal Member of Technical Staff at GTE Laboratories in Waltham, MA. He joined the EECS department at the University of Michigan as an associate professor in 1987, became a full professor in 1992, and was named a Thurnau Professor in 1993.  In 2019, he was named the Joseph E. and Anne P. Rowe Professor of Electrical Engineering.

He has made fundamental contributions to nonlinear fiber optics, nonlinear optics in periodic structures, the nonlinear dynamics of laser arrays, the propagation of single-cycle pulses, and the physics of tunneling. Having published more than 130 journal articles and supervised the research of PhD students, Dr. Winful is himself the recipient of many awards, most recently the 2020 IEEE Photonics Society Quantum Electronics Award, which he was given "for pioneering the field of nonlinear optical periodic structures and for foundational contributions to nonlinear dynamics of semiconductor laser arrays”. In January 2021, he was a recipient of the University of Michigan North Campus Deans' MLK Spirit Award, given to those "who exemplify the leadership and vision of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr”. In November 2022, he was inducted as a Fellow of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS).

He is a Fellow of the Optical Society of America, the American Physical Society, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and the National Society of Black Physicists. His many awards include the Amoco/University Teaching Award, the State of Michigan Teaching Award, the College of Engineering Teaching Excellence and Service Excellence Awards, the EECS Professor of the Year Award (twice), the EECS Outstanding Achievement Award, the Presidential Young Investigator Award, and the Tau Beta Pi Distinguished Professor award.

• Being elected as Fellow of the National Society of Black Physicists (2011)
• Being elected as a Fellow of the Alabama Academy of Sciences (2012)
• Being elected as Fellow of the American Physical Society – Division of Plasma Physics (APS-DPP) – (2015)
• Receiving the International Dusty Plasma Community “Star Dust” award for lifetime contributions to the field (2025)

Dr. Edward Thomas Jr. says his career has been strongly impacted and shaped by the generations of black physicists who came before him. “My own career has certainly been strongly impacted and shaped by the generations of black physicists who came before me,” Dr. Thomas says. “They faced enormous challenges to create pathways and opportunities that have made it possible to achieve success in my own career.”

He continued his educational journey at the University of Dayton, Dayton, OH and in 2017 completed his M.S. in Electro-Optics and Photonics on “Four-gap Asymmetric Terahertz Metasurfaces”, Adviser: Professor Jay Mathews; followed by his Ph.D. in 2021 as a Ford Foundation Dissertation Fellow, "Nanopatterning of Phase Change Material Ge2Sb2Te5 towards Novel and Improved Reconfigurable Photonic Devices" under the advisement of Dr. Imad Agha. 

Dr. Burrow was a Hibbitt Postdoctoral Fellow and Burroughs Wellcome Foundation Postdoctoral Diversity Enrichment Fellowship recipient at Brown University, where he worked on the development of a patented pulse oximetry technology in the PROBE Lab led by Prof. Kimani C. Toussaint, Jr., demonstrating advancements in non-invasive physiological monitoring and clinical validation of innovative medical devices.

He has returned home to Baltimore as an Assistant Professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Faculty Researcher in the Microelectronics Education and Research Center, and Director of the Burrow Lab at Morgan State University since January 2025.

Dr. Burrow is also an Optica Ambassador (c/o 2021), disseminating optics and photonics technical material and mentoring the next generation of scientists and engineers in the field. He is a mentor for the D.U.K.E.S. Foundation, a nonprofit service organization providing youth mentoring programs and support for at-risk young men in the urban communities of Atlanta, GA. During graduate school, he served as an Executive Board Member of the National Society of Black Physicists (NSBP) and the lead co-founder of the NSBP Student Leadership Development Summit, thereby demonstrating his commitment to leadership and service in the physics and engineering communities.

Prof. Demetrius Venable is a Professor Emeritus at Howard University in Washington, D.C. Over his long career, he has specialized in optical physics and helped establish and develop physics programs at multiple Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

Prof. Venable was born on October 11, 1947, in Powhatan, Virginia. His father, James Venable, was a schoolteacher and principal of Pocahontas High School from 1967 to 1975. Pocahontas High School was Powhatan's segregated high school for Black students that served 8th through 12th graders. In high school, Venable took courses in mathematics, history, and government with his father. At the time he attended high school, there were no physics courses offered at his school. However, he was able to attend a National Science Foundation summer program at Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Virginia, where he was introduced to set theory, a branch of mathematical logic that studies sets, which can be informally described as collections of objects. 

After graduating from high school in 1966, Prof. Venable attended Virginia State College (later renamed as Virginia State University), located in Petersburg, Virginia, as a physics major. As an undergraduate in 1968 and 1969, he participated in the Harvard-Yale-Columbia-Intensive Summer Studies Program at Columbia University, where he studied in the intermediate physics lab, working on classical physics experiments at the university, and worked with Professor Lucy J. Hayner. While at Virginia State as an undergraduate, he also worked with physicists Arthur Thorpe and James Davenport, two prominent Black physicists, the latter being the physics department chairperson at the time. He received his B.Sc. in physics in 1970. He then received his M.Sc. (1972) and Ph.D. (1974) in physics from American University.

He eventually became an assistant professor of physics at Saint Paul’s College in Lawrenceville, Virginia, where he helped develop a cooperative physics program with Howard University for students from Saint Paul's to attend summer courses at Howard. He was involved in numerous collaborations through various summer fellowships with the Air Force Office of Scientific Research(AFOSR) at the Brooks Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, and at NASA Langley, where he began work in remote sensing.

In 1978, Prof. Venable was appointed assistant professor of physics at Hampton Institute (later renamed Hampton University), where he was eventually appointed to full professor and served in numerous leadership roles, including: Department Chair, Dean of the Graduate College, Vice President for Research, and Executive Vice President and Provost. He also helped establish Hampton University's graduate program in physics. In 1995, he joined the faculty at Howard University as a Professor and Department Chair, and served as the Interim Associate Provost for Research from 1999-2000. At his new institution, he helped develop the university's interdisciplinary atmospheric science program and was the deputy director of the Howard University Beltsville Center for Climate System Observation, funded by NASA.
 
Throughout his career, he has participated in various professional organizations, including the National Society of Black Physicists, the American Association of Physics Teachers, and the Virginia Academy of Science, among others. He officially retired from Howard in 2017. 

James Edward Maceo West is an American inventor and acoustician. He holds over 250 foreign and U.S. patents for the production and design of microphones and techniques for creating polymer foil electrets.

West was born on February 10, 1931, in Farmville, Prince Edward County, Virginia. After graduating high school, he undertook a pre-medical track at Hampton University, before being drafted into the U.S. Army in the Korean War, where he received a Purple Heart after being wounded there. With the assistance of the G.I. Bill, he then attended Temple University where he began majoring in solid state physics. West graduated from Temple University in 1957 with a degree in physics.

As a graduate student, he interned with Bell Laboratories where he began designing work on the Electret microphone. Along with Gerhard Sessler, West invented the foil electret microphone in 1962 while developing instruments for human hearing research. Today, nearly 90 percent of the microphones produced annually are based on the principles of the foil-electret and are used in everyday items such as telephones, camcorders, hearing aids, baby monitors, and audio recording devices among others.

West holds more than 60 U.S. patents and more than 200 foreign patents using polymer foil electrets in transducers during his 40-year career with Bell Laboratories, where he had worked as an acoustical scientist. He has also authored or contributed to more than 150 technical papers and several books on acoustics, solid-state physics, and materials science. West retired from Lucent Technologies after a 40 year career and is currently a professor of electrical and computer engineering and mechanical engineering at Johns Hopkins University.

Abbreviated List of Awards:

James E. West Fellowship: Established in 2018 by the Acoustical Society of America in his honor.

National Academy of Engineering (1998): Elected member.

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE): Life Fellow.

Acoustical Society of America: Fellow (since 1985) and President (1998–1999)

Bell Laboratories Fellow (2001)

National Inventors Hall of Fame (1999)

US Medal of Technology and Innovation (2006)

2018 U.S. News STEM Leadership Hall of Fame

West says his experiences with bias and adversity throughout his career have guided his work in championing and promoting women and minorities in STEM fields. West was the leader of minority internship and hiring initiatives at Bell Labs and continues to promote diversity efforts at Johns Hopkins. West also works with the Ingenuity Project, a math and science program in Baltimore aimed at getting a diverse swath of students in grades six through 12 excited about STEM.

Prof. Ernst is a fellow of the National Society of Black Physicists, co-founded the National Society of Hispanic Physicists, and is also a fellow of the American Physical Society.

He was a postdoctoral Fellow at Emory from 1981 to 1982 with Dr. Landman as Advisor. Brown was employed by AT&T Bell Laboratories beginning in 1982.

In 1988, he was appointed as a Founding Council Member of EBASI by the Late Nobel Laureate Abdus Salam, Founding Director of the (as it is presently named) Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP). He participated in the First Edward Bouchet International Conference on Physics and Technology (EBASI) held in June of 1988 at ICTP headquarters in Trieste, Italy. In 1996, He was awarded an ICTP Visiting Scholarship to the University of Cape Coast, where he became deeply interested in the University's growth and development.

From 2001-2002, Charles held the position of Chief Scientist of Luxcore Networks, then located in Atlanta, Georgia. In the period 2002-July 2004, Charles was Adjunct Professor of the Department of Physics of Morehouse College. From August 2004 until just before his death in 2007, Charles was Professor and Interim Chair of the Department of Physics of Morehouse College.

During his career there, he performed cutting-edge research in theoretical physics, applied physics, optical fiber telecommunications, and other related engineering areas. 

Resources:
https://www.lowellsun.com/obituaries/charles-s-brown/
https://ebasi.org/cbrown.html

Dr. Bush was a member of several professional societies: the American Physical Society, Sigma Xi, the University of Wisconsin Alumni Association, the American Nuclear Society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the National Society of Black Physicists, and the review panel for the Department of Energy’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities Nuclear Energy Training Program. 

His talents in math and science sparked a lifelong passion for pursuing the most difficult scientific challenges of humanity, particularly safe, clean, and renewable energy. He had a 35-year career as an experimental physicist in nuclear fusion energy and plasma physics research at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in Tennessee. He was a pioneer in the study of Tokamaks, H-mode (high confinement) plasmas, toroidal plasmas, and novel applications of lasers. He authored and co-authored many scientific papers, conference papers, and presentation reports, some of which have been cited by other authors in his field. The pinnacle of his career was a three-year assignment at CEA Cadarache Technological Research and Development Center for Energy in the South of France, near Aix-en-Provence. During his tenure at Cadarache, he collaborated with scientists from around the world during the design phase of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER).

She obtained her master’s with a Physics concentration in Astronomy from San Francisco State University, CA, Advisor: Dr. Adrienne Cool, Thesis: Commissioning the refurbished 30-inch Leuschner telescope and its capabilities to detect transiting exoplanets.  She joined the Graduate Center of the City University of New York for her graduate studies, obtaining an MA from Hunter College (2019), an MPhil in Physics (2019), and then she defended her PhD in 2020, Advisor: Dr. Jackie Faherty, Thesis title: Understanding Atmospheres Across the Stellar-Substellar Boundary.

Gonzales is involved with science education and outreach programs. During her doctoral studies, she worked at the American Museum of Natural History, supervising and mentoring high school students and teaching astronomy. 

She is a recipient of a Postdoc Achievement Award for Excellence in Leadership as part of Cornell’s celebration of National Postdoc Appreciation Week 2022.

In 2025, Gonzales was named the Vera Rubin Distinguished Visiting Professor, University of California, Santa Cruz, and in 2023, she became an SF State Faculty Hub Fellow at San Francisco State University. In the same year, she received the Equity Fellow, CSU Chancellor’s Office.

Let's meet the laid-back Eileen
She is a lindy hopper!  She has been dancing for the past 13 years. At every chance, she combines work travel with dance, which enables her to dance all across the US. Recently, she was on a performance team, the Oaktown Hella Hoppers, that placed second at Camp Hollywood, a national swing dance event. Also started teaching dance for the past year and a half at Cat's Corner in San Francisco, where she took her first dance class. She is a plant enthusiast and has over 100 house plants. A tea lover probably has close to 100 different kinds of tea, too! As such, she travels to conferences with her own tea. 

Another hobby is her love for crochet, and have been primarily making amigurumi and cute items for my baby niece

Proudest 
Her first two graduate students defended this past semester!

B.S. in Physics, University of Illinois (1960)
M.A. in Physics, Dartmouth College (1964)
Ph.D. in Physics, UC Berkeley (1969), with a dissertation titled Nuclear Relaxation in Ferromagnetic Cobalt [en.wikipedia.org]

At Berkeley, Shaw was president of the Black Student Union and active in the social and political movements of the 1960s—experiences that shaped his lifelong commitment to equity, access, and advocacy in the sciences. [en.wikipedia.org]

Scientific Career and Inventions
Bell Laboratories
In 1969, Shaw became the first African American Ph.D. physicist hired by Bell Laboratories, a world-leading industrial research center. [royalsociety.org]
At Bell Labs, he:

Co-invented the spin-flip Raman tunable laser, a major contribution to tunable-laser science and semiconductor optics. [en.wikipedia.org], [thehistorymakers.org]

Conducted pioneering research in free-electron laser technologies.

Co-patented the Free-Electron Amplifier Device with Electromagnetic Radiation Delay Element (U.S. 4,529,942), enabling lasers to be tuned across wider frequency ranges. [thehistorymakers.org]

Shaw spent nearly 20 years at Bell Labs, where he became both a scientific leader and a mentor for emerging Black scientists. His colleagues described him as a passionate researcher who brought unmatched energy to both science and social responsibility. [royalsociety.org]

Rutgers University
In 1991, Shaw joined Rutgers University–Newark, bringing with him cutting-edge laser technologies developed at Bell Labs, including a far-infrared free-electron laser used to study the dynamics of DNA and biomolecular vibrations. [en.wikipedia.org]
He also helped introduce campus astronomy resources through a telescope project benefiting both university and local students. [en.wikipedia.org]

Role and Contributions to the Mission of the National Society of Black Physicists (NSBP)
 Shaw was a member of the National Society of Black Physicists, and a fuller understanding of his impact emerges through his broader, documented efforts to advance Black participation in physics. [thehistorymakers.org]

1. Early Foundation of His NSBP Involvement
Shaw’s leadership in Black scientific spaces began during his graduate years:
As president of the Black Student Union at Berkeley, he championed representation and student empowerment. This activism naturally extended to his later involvement in the NSBP, an organization formed in 1977 by Black physicists addressing professional isolation and lack of representation. [en.wikipedia.org]

2. Advocacy for Black Scientists at Bell Laboratories
During his two decades at Bell Labs, Shaw became an informal but highly influential mentor and advocate for Black researchers, modeling the core mission of NSBP.
He:
Encouraged recruitment of Black students and researchers.
Worked directly with colleagues—including those hesitant about integration—to advocate for equitable treatment and inclusive practices. [royalsociety.org]
Acted as a role model whose presence demonstrated excellence in a space where Black physicists were rare.
These contributions reflect the NSBP’s guiding goals: supporting professional development, fostering community, and ensuring representation across the field.

3. Advancement of Black Physicists Through Teaching and Mentorship
At Rutgers University and through national networks, Shaw helped educate, support, and mentor minority students in physics. His guidance encouraged many future scientists—including his own son—to pursue careers in STEM. [r-rights-4…0years.com]
This mentorship work aligns with NSBP’s educational and professional development initiatives.

4. Legacy
Professor Earl D. Shaw is widely regarded as:
A trailblazing laser physicist and inventor,
A dedicated educator and mentor, and
A significant contributor to the National Society of Black Physicists’ mission through advocacy, community-building, and professional leadership.
His career embodies the intersection of high-level scientific innovation and committed service to future generations of Black physicists—cementing his legacy as both a scientific pioneer and an influential force for equity in the sciences.

References:
Shaw Bio: http://rutgers-newark.rutgers.edu/~physics/Faculty%20Bio/SHAW.HTM
Dare to be Inspired - Charles Kopec and Dr. Earl Shaw: http://rutgers-newark.rutgers.edu/opportunity/stars.html
Faces of African Americans in the Sciences: http://www.princeton.edu/~mcbrown/display/shaw.html
The History Makers: https://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/earl-shaw

Dr. Lara Arielle Phillips received her B.Sc. with First Class Honors in Physics, with a minor in Mathematics, from McGill University in Montreal, Canada, in 1996, and her DEC in Pure and Applied Sciences from Collège de Maisonneuve in Montreal, Canada, in 1991. She continued her studies at Princeton University, where she earned her Ph.D. in Astrophysical Sciences in 2003. Her dissertation was titled WHIMsical Tracings: The X-ray Signature of the Warm/Hot Intergalactic Medium, under the advisement of Professor Jeremiah P. Ostriker.

In 2020, Dr. Phillips became a Fellow of the National Society of Black Physicists (NSBP) for founding an algebra-based physics program at the Westville Correctional Facility, where incarcerated men were able to take classes and earn academic credit toward a degree.

She currently serves as Associate Dean of Collegiate Affairs at the University of Notre Dame and as Associate Professor of the Practice in the Department of Physics & Astronomy. In 2024, she was awarded the Simons Emmy Noether Fellowship at the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics.

Dr. Phillips is an astrophysicist, an academic leader, and a STEAM educator and communicator.