September 25-26, 2003

ITEM 120-2010-R0903  Authorization to Confer the Title of Professor Emeritus of Physics upon John Hermanson; Montana State University-Bozeman

THAT: Upon the occasion of the retirement John Hermanson from the faculty of Montana State University, the Board of Regents wishes to express its appreciation for his service to the University, the Montana University system, and the people of the State of Montana.

EXPLANATION: John Hermanson received his baccalaureate degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1962, and his master's and doctoral degrees from the University of Chicago, completing the Ph.D. program in Physics in 1966. After This area should be used to list degrees, certifications, special training, etc. that the faculty member has.postdoctoral research at the University of Illinois, Urbana, and the University of California, Berkeley, he joined the Montana State University College of Letters and Science faculty as an Assistant Professor in 1970. During his 33 years at MSU, Professor Hermanson has made outstanding contributions to teaching, research, and service as a faculty member, as well as serving for thirteen years (1990-2003) as Head of the Department of Physics.

Professor Hermanson's strong concern for excellence in teaching was well known across the campus, as well as within the Physics Department. He introduced four new courses to the physics curriculum, and acted as Ph.D. advisor for six graduate students.

His expertise in theoretical condensed matter physics provided strong support for the efforts of his many experimental colleagues within the Physics Department. His 56 publications in the top refereed journals in his field, and the many citations these publications have garnered, illustrate the significance of his contributions to the field. He has received an Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship, which allowed him to pursue research at the Universitaet Muenchen in Munich, Germany (1978-79), and also the Faculty Research Award from the MSU chapter of Sigma Xi in 1982.

Professor Hermanson has been an important leader on the MSU campus in his role on many college and university level committees, including his crucial service as Chair of the University Promotion and Tenure Policy Committee, as well as his many contributions to the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee, the University Long-Range Planning Committee, the Graduate Studies Committee, and many more.

During Professor Hermanson's service as Head of the Physics Department, research grant activity has grown by a factor of seven. At the same time, the reputation of the department for teaching excellence has been reinforced. Connections between faculty, students, and local high-technology industries have been increased and strengthened.

For these and other contributions, the Board of Regents of Higher Education is pleased to confer John Hermanson the rank of Professor Emeritus of Physics at Montana State University and wishes him well for many years in the future.