Alyssa Hamre, 2020 Outstanding Chapter Advisor Award Nominee

About the Recipient

Zone and Chapter: Bethel University

Alyssa Hamre Kontak earned her B.S. in Physics from Wheaton College in Illinois and her M.S. in Physics from the University of Minnesota, where she worked in space plasma physics with a focus on the energy processes associated with aurora. Prof. Hamre Kontak is passionate about teaching physics and has also completed education coursework to further develop her teaching skills. She leads Bethel University’s chapter of the Society for Physics Students and also heads the Women in Physics & Engineering Club. Prof. Hamre Kontak has served as an SPS advisor for 4 years, and was privileged to work with the SPS student leaders who earned an Outstanding Chapter award (2018, 2019) and the Blake Lilly Prize (2018) for their work in demonstration shows at local schools. She enjoys the annual SPS chapter events such as carving physics equations into pumpkins and singing physics carols.