Many of you may be aware that Professor Kennedy Reed recently passed away. We would like to honor him.

Dr. Kennedy Reed was an inspiration and a true professional, as is evident in his numerous accomplishments and achievements.

Kennedy Reed was a theoretical atomic physicist featured by NSBP during Black History Month last year on February 8, 2022.

Dr. Reed worked at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and was a founder of the National Physical Science Consortium (NPSC).
The NPSC is a group of about 30 universities that provided fellowships for women and minorities.

A portion from the NSBP Black History Feature story is highlighted below.

Dr. Kennedy J. Reed was born on May 24, 1944, in Memphis, Tennessee. He was an African American theoretical atomic physicist. Kennedy Reed earned his B.S. in physics from Monmouth College in 1967. He then earned his M.S.T. in physics from the University of Wisconsin-Superior in 1971. He completed his Ph.D. in theoretical atomic physics from the University of Nebraska in 1976.

Dr. Reed was a professor of physics at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. He was also a visiting scientist at the Hahn-Meitner Institute in Germany and at the University College in London in the U.K. Dr Reed served on the review panels for the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation, and the National Research Council.

His research network was extensive. Dr Reed was well connected in Africa. In 1997 and 1999 Professor Reed served as a visiting scientist at University Cheikh Anta Diop in Senegal, and at the University of Cape Coast in Ghana – under the auspices of the Visiting Scholars Program of the International Center for Theoretical Physics in Trieste.

He presented scientific lectures at universities in a number of other African countries, and organized international conferences and workshops connected with physics in Africa.
He served as Vice Chair of the APS Committee on International Scientific Affairs; a member of the APS Task Force on Research Collaborations with Africa; and was the U.S. representative on the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP) Commission on Physics for Development.

Dr. Kennedy J Reed was an outstanding physicist and made a tremendous impact on the Scientific Community.

As we mourn his passing, let us also celebrate Kennedy Reed’s life and the lasting impact he made.

Professor Reed’s legacy continues to growth within our community.

https://nsbp.org/blogpost/1997746/438425/February-8-2022--Dr-Kennedy-Reed

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Additionally, there have been a number of Black physicists that have been elevated to fellow status within APS, Congratulations to all of the award winners.