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Courtesy Office of Media Relations
Dr. Charles H. McGruder has been named the first William McCormack
Professor in Physics. Dr. McGruder, who joined Western in 1993 as a
professor and head of the Physics and Astronomy Department, said the
appointment is a “gratifying honor. It gives me ample time to do the
research that would like to do.” In addition, Dr. McGruder will
continue working on the proposed Kentucky Academy of Mathematics and
Science. The academy would bring the brightest high school juniors and
seniors to campus to finish their high school work while earning 60
college credit hours.
The McCormack Professorship was created in 2000 through a $500,000
gift from Dr. William McCormack, a 1957 WKU graduate and retired
radiologist. That gift was matched through Kentucky’s Regional
University Excellence Trust Fund to create the $1 million endowment.
WKU President Gary Ransdell said professorship endowments allow the
University to retain and attract quality faculty to enhance already
strong academic programs. “The foundation for a quality academic
experience for students is directly related to the presence of quality
faculty in the classroom,” he said. “When teachers are providing
outstanding instruction for students, the students will find ultimate
educational and professional success.
Dr. McGruder has a bachelor’s degree in astronomy from the
California Institute of Technology and a doctorate from the University
of Heidelberg in Germany. In accepting the appointment, Dr. McGruder
stepped down as department head. A search for his replacement has
begun.
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