January 18, 2008

Holy Cross Physics Professor Named Outstanding First-Year Student Advocate

WORCESTER, Mass. – Robert H. Garvey, associate professor of physics at the College of the Holy Cross, has been named one of 10 Outstanding First-Year Student Advocates by the National Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition and the Houghton Mifflin Company. He will be honored at the 27th Annual Conference on The First-Year Experience Feb. 15-19 in San Francisco.

A member of the Holy Cross faculty since 1977, Garvey was instrumental in creating Holy Cross’ First-Year Program (FYP), and served as its first director for two years and from 2002-07.  FYP, a nationally recognized program, which has been an option for students since 1992, served as the model for Montserrat, the College’s new living-learning experience.  Inspired by the success of FYP, Holy Cross’ new program offers small, full-year seminar courses along with distinctive co-curricular and residence hall opportunities for all incoming students, beginning in September 2008.

“Bob Garvey has been an inspirational mentor to me during my 12 years at Holy Cross. I had the privilege of teaching in the First-Year Program under his directorship,” explains Nancy Andrews, associate professor of classics and director of Montserrat.  “During that year, I observed first-hand his uncompromising personal integrity and his total commitment to the intellectual and personal development of each first year student.”

In his time at Holy Cross, Garvey has developed courses for non-science majors as well as a range of courses for physics majors. He has conducted research in theoretical atomic physics, including energy levels of rare-earth ions in crystals; yield spectra of atmospheric gases; philosophical implications of technology; and general relativity.

In addition to his classroom and course development endeavors on behalf of Holy Cross students, Garvey has been a dedicated participant in the College’s science programs developed in conjunction with the Worcester Public Schools. He has taught in the Youth Exploring Science program and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Summer Science Workshop for WPS science and math teachers. Garvey has co-developed a weather program for 400 sixth-grade students that he team-teaches each May. Garvey received his Ph.D. from Pennsylvania State University.

In 2000, Garvey was one of only four U.S. Professors of the Year to be named by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement and Support of Education. He was recognized for his extraordinary dedication to teaching, commitment to students and innovative instructional methods.

For additional information contact Cristal Perriello at 508.793.2419