David J. Helfand, a faculty member at Columbia University for forty-six years, served nearly half of that time as Chair of the Department of Astronomy,. He also completed a four-year term as President of the American Astronomical Society, the professional society for astronomers, astrophysicists, planetary scientists, and solar physicists in North America, and is currently Chair of the American Institute of physics and of AIP Publishing, LLC. He is the author of over 200 scientific publications and has mentored 22 PhD students, but most of his pedagogical efforts have been aimed at teaching science to non-science majors. He instituted the first change in Columbia's famed Core Curriculum in 50 years by introducing science to all first-year students.
In 2005, he became involved with an effort to create Canada's first independent, non-profit, secular university, Quest University Canada. He served as a Visiting Tutor in the University's inaugural semester in the Fall of 2007 and was appointed President & Vice-Chancellor the following year to lead this innovative experiment in higher education. For six years in a row, Quest was ranked #1 in North America in the National Survey of Student Engagement.
He completed his term as President of Quest in the fall of 2015 and returned to Columbia where he headed the Committee on Innovative Teaching and Learning. His first book, "A Survival Guide to the Misinformation Age" appeared, appropriately enough, in 2016 the year of "alternative facts". His current book, The Universal Timekeepers: Reconstructing History Atom by Atom, will appear in September 2023.
His Curriculum Vitae may be found here:
In 2005, he became involved with an effort to create Canada's first independent, non-profit, secular university, Quest University Canada. He served as a Visiting Tutor in the University's inaugural semester in the Fall of 2007 and was appointed President & Vice-Chancellor the following year to lead this innovative experiment in higher education. For six years in a row, Quest was ranked #1 in North America in the National Survey of Student Engagement.
He completed his term as President of Quest in the fall of 2015 and returned to Columbia where he headed the Committee on Innovative Teaching and Learning. His first book, "A Survival Guide to the Misinformation Age" appeared, appropriately enough, in 2016 the year of "alternative facts". His current book, The Universal Timekeepers: Reconstructing History Atom by Atom, will appear in September 2023.
His Curriculum Vitae may be found here:
djh_cv_2023.5.pdf |
Passing the gavel as I assume the Presidency of the American Astronomical Society, the professional society for the astronomers, astrophysicists, planetary scientists and solar physicists of North America, in June 2012. Outgoing President Prof. Debra M. Elmegreen of Vassar College holds her engraved, memorial gavel while the real one passes to me.
At left: with Jennifer Donovan Meyer, Columbia University graduate as she receives her PhD. from our Department. |
As the grumpy Santa I am wont to be, and as the considerably more cheerful Dumbledore on the Library Terrace at Quest University Canada with my beloved wife of 45 years, the artist Jada Rowland (see her art at jadarowland.com).
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