COLUMBUS -- Bunny C. Clark, a Distinguished University Professor in The Ohio State University Department of Physics, will serve as speaker at Ohio State’s 355th commencement on March 16, 2001.

Clark joined the university’s physics faculty in 1981 and became a full professor in 1986. She was named Distinguished University Professor, Ohio State’s highest honor for a faculty member, in 1989. Clark earned a bachelor of science degree with honors in physics and mathematics in 1958 and a master’s degree in physics in 1963 from Kansas State University. In 1973, she received a doctorate in theoretical physics from Wayne State University.

Highly regarded in the scientific community, Clark is considered a pioneer in the field of theoretical physics, especially in the relativistic treatment of nuclear reactions. She has published more than 80 scholarly articles and presented more than 150 lectures on her research, which has had a major impact on theoretical physics. National recognition for her research expertise has included selection as an American Physical Society Fellow in 1984 and an American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow in 1996. In 1999 she received the Fowler Award for Excellence in Nuclear Physics from the Ohio Section of the American Physical Society.

At Ohio State, she was instrumental in developing the World of Energy physics course, a discovery-based, hands-on course for nonscience majors, taken by some 300 students a quarter. Her service at the university has been wide-ranging. She has been a member of several search committees, the Provost and Presidents Advisory Committee, the University Senate and the board of directors of the Ohio State University Research Foundation. She is a recipient of the Faculty Award for Distinguished University Service, the University Distinguished Research Award, the Rosalene Sedgwich Faculty Service Award and the University Distinguished Affirmative Action Award. In addition, she was chosen as one of the YWCA Women of Achievement in 1993 and was elected to the Ohio Woman’s Hall of Fame in 1994.

Clark is past-chair of the American Physical Society (APS) Division of Nuclear Physics (DNP) and is currently the chair of the DNP Public Information Committee and the Congressional Reception Committee. She has served as chair of the APS Committee on the Status of Women in Physics and is currently serving on the APS Committee on Minorities. She has served on numerous National Science Foundation (NSF) and Department of Energy (DOE) committees, including the advisory committee for the physics division of the NSF and on the NSF and DOE Nuclear Science Advisory Committee.

###

(LO)