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Raeghan Graessle awarded the Homer L. Dodge Citation for Distinguished Service to AAPT

Homer L. Dodge Citation for Distinguished Service to AAPT Awarded to Raeghan Graessle

Raeghan Graessle

AAPT has announced that Raeghan Graessle will receive the association's Homer L. Dodge Citation for Distinguished Service to AAPT during the 2026 Winter Meeting. Graessle is recognized for her exceptional service and leadership to AAPT community members.

Regarding her selection to receive this citation, Graessle said, “I’m delighted and humbled to receive the Homer L. Dodge Citation for Distinguished Service to AAPT and to be a part of the inspirational group of past award winners. Thank you to everyone who’s been a part of my community at AAPT and especially thanks to those who nominated me. The AAPT has done so much for me and for my students, it is my honor to give back to such an empowering organization.”

Graessle is Associate Professor of Physics in the Math and Science Division at William Rainey Harper College in Palatine, IL. She graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with her S. B. in Physics. Her M. S. in Physics was earned at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She holds an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from Loyola University, Chicago, and she is currently an Ed. D. Candidate in Curriculum and Instruction at Northern Illinois University.

A member of AAPT since 2016, Graessle has taught physics, first at high school, and currently at a community college. She has been extremely active in AAPT at both the sectional and the national levels. She has been Vice President and President of the Chicago Section of the AAPT, shepherding the organization through pandemic lockdown challenges. She has served with dedication, vision, and creativity. As President of the Chicago Section, she expanded community engagement, organized impactful meetings, and introduced innovative teaching workshops. Nationally, she has contributed through the Committee on Physics at Two-Year Colleges, OPTYCs leadership, and mentoring new faculty. She is widely admired for her equity-focused pedagogy, engaging workshops, and tireless mentorship of colleagues and students alike.

About the Award

Established in 1953 and renamed in recognition of AAPT founder Homer L. Dodge in 2012, the Homer L. Dodge Citation for Distinguished Service to AAPT is presented to members in recognition of their exceptional contributions to the association at the national, sectional, or local level.

About AAPT

AAPT is an international organization for physics educators, physicists, and industrial scientists—with members worldwide. Dedicated to enhancing the understanding and appreciation of physics through teaching, AAPT provides awards, publications, and programs that encourage teaching practical application of physics principles, support continuing professional development, and reward excellence in physics education. AAPT was founded in 1930 and is headquartered in the American Center for Physics in College Park, Maryland.