Shahida Dar2026 National Board of Directors Election Candidate for Vice-President

Shahida Dar 

Professor of Physics
Mohawk Valley Community College, Utica, NY 
sdar@mvcc.edu

Education

PhD, Physics, University of Delaware, Newark, DE
MS, Physics, University of Punjab, Pakistan

Professional Experience

Instructor/ Assistant/ Associate/ Full Professor, Mohawk Valley Community College, Utica, NY (2008- present)

Memberships

AAPT member

AAPT Activities

  • Co-chair: APPT Community on International Physics Education (January 2026)
  • Vice Chair: New York State Section of AAPT (Spring 2026)
  • Member: Equitable Policies Task Force (2022-2023)
  • Chair: Committee on Women in Physics (2023-2024)
  • Vice Chair: Committee on Women in Physics (2022-2023)
  • Chair: Committee on Educational Technologies (2018-2019)
  • Vice Chair: Committee on Educational Technologies (2017-2018)
  • Member of various committees including OPTYCS, TYC and Diversity in Physics over the years.
  • Helped AAPT with various activities during national conferences including, presenting at national meetings, chairing sessions, and as a paper sorter.

Other Professional Activities

  • APS Career Mentor (2023- Present)
  • Interim Dean of school of STEM at Mohawk Valley Community College (2025-2026)

Candidate Statement

I am honored to be considered as a candidate for Vice President of the American Association of Physics Teachers. AAPT has been my professional home since 2013. Through my involvement in the association, I have learned from dedicated colleagues, and have contributed to national conversations in physics education. Through AAPT, I have worked to support a more inclusive physics teaching community.

I currently serve as Interim Dean of the School of STEM at Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica, New York. I have also served as Professor of Physics at MVCC since 2008. My academic background includes a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Delaware and an M.S. in Physics from the University of the Punjab in Pakistan. My experience as a community college professor and as an academic administrator has shaped the way I think about the future of physics education.

I am strongly committed to AAPT’s current strategic plan. Its emphasis on strengthening the professional growth of physics educators, supporting effective teaching practices, expanding participation in the association, and building an inclusive organizational culture reflects the work I have tried to advance throughout my career. If elected Vice President, I would work with AAPT leadership and members to help move this plan forward in practical and meaningful ways.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to my commitment to AAPT. As an immigrant, and a woman in physics working at a community college, I understand how important it is for students and faculty to feel that they belong in the physics community. My AAPT service reflects this commitment. I served as Chair and Vice Chair of the Committee on Women in Physics, and I was a member of the Equitable Policies Task Force. I have also been involved with committees connected to two-year colleges, diversity in physics, and educational technology. These experiences have strengthened my belief that AAPT must continue to create more inclusive meetings, and more accessible professional opportunities.

My qualifications for Vice President come from many years of teaching, service, mentoring, and leadership. Within AAPT, I currently serve as co-chair of the Community on International Physics Education. I previously served as chair of the Committee on Educational Technologies and chair of the Committee on Women in Physics. I have contributed to national meetings by presenting, chairing sessions, assisting with paper sorting, and supporting conference activities. These roles have given me a strong understanding of AAPT’s structure and the dedication of its members.

Beyond AAPT, I serve as an APS Career Mentor to support physics students and early-career scientists. My mentor profile can be found here. 

In my current role as Interim Dean of the School of STEM, I work with faculty, students, staff, and college leadership to support academic programs and student success. This work requires collaboration, and a commitment to shared goals. These are qualities I would bring to the role of AAPT Vice President.

If elected, I would be honored to help advance AAPT’s mission and strategic plan. I would work to support physics educators across different institutional settings, with particular attention to community colleges and colleagues whose voices are not always fully represented. I would also support AAPT’s efforts to strengthen international engagement and to make the association a welcoming professional home for all physics educators.

I would be grateful for the opportunity to serve AAPT as Vice President and to contribute to the continued growth and impact of our association.