Staff

Susan has been with the Physics Learning Center (PLC) since it was founded in the early 2000’s.  It is a privilege to work with PLC students and staff!  She greatly enjoys working with PLC participants and tutors and supporting them in reaching their academic and professional dreams.  She also works as a scientist studying atmospheric physics and climate. Please contact her if you would like to talk about climate change.   Outside of work, Susan enjoys spending time outdoors, volunteering with community organizations focused on climate change, gardening in the Eagle Heights community garden, and spending time with family and friends.

While growing up in Chile, Chris became interested in astronomy, solar energy, and the nature of things.  He is passionate about creating a welcoming, inclusive, and active learning environment for all students as they work hard to learn physics concepts and how they relate to the world we live in. He likes to do yoga, bike, hike, kayak, camp in wilderness settings, and observe the wonders of the night sky.  Chris believes in bringing about change through participation in our democracy and continues to learn how to live with the effects of climate change.

Eric Hooper is a research astronomer (basically physics applied to “up there”) with interests in the supermassive black holes in the centers of distant galaxies.  He likes to ski, travel, write, photograph, and is fascinated by dinosaurs and volcanoes.

Faizah joined the Physics Department as a PhD student in Fall 2021, and has been working in Peter Timbie’s research group in computational, and experimental observational cosmology. In addition to her research, Faizah is also interested in making physics more accessible and inclusive to marginalized folks by building welcoming communities within the department through her involvement with the GMaWiP (Gender Minorities and Women in Physics) and BBiP (Black and Brown in Physics) student orgs on campus. In their spare time, Faizah enjoys reading fantasy/sci-fi, playing video games, going on nature walks, and playing the piano.

Melissa joined us at the PLC in August 2024. She began her academic career as an adult student, transitioning from her financial career to science. Melissa recently received her master’s from UW-Milwaukee in 2024. Her thesis research focused on using geomagnetic paleointensity to improve the correlation of lava flows. From a young age, she has been a multifaceted student with interests in various subjects, ranging from biology and neuroscience to anthropology to astrophysics. Outside of work, you can find her disc golfing, storm spotting, traveling, and hiking. The image shown features her excitement as she found a dinosaur footprint on the Isle of Skye, Scotland.

Educational Background

MSc. (Geosciences), University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee

Bsc. (Physics and Broad Field Natural Sciences), Edgewood College

ASc. (Liberal Arts), Madison College