Dr. Chad Young, a doctoral physicist at Nicholls State University, has transformed the teaching of physics at the institution by introducing a student-centered learning approach. His amiable personality and student-centered approach to teaching earned him the Nicholls Presidential Award for Teaching Excellence in 2014, the Nicholls Apple Award for Outstanding Faculty Support for Student Activities in 2017, and the 2022 William Craig Outstanding University Educator Award from the Louisiana Science Teachers Association.
The William Craig Outstanding University Educator Award recognizes university professors who have made a difference in the careers of K-12 educators, just like the late Dr. William W. Craig. Dr. Young’s love for science and teaching has made physics, an abstract and mathematical subject, more accessible and easier for students to understand.
The Louisiana Science Teachers Association created the award to commemorate Dr. Craig’s lasting legacy on K-12 educators. Dr. Craig, despite being a research scientist, had a significant influence on science teachers. The award honors university professors who, like Dr. Craig, have made a difference in the careers of K-12 educators by reaching out to them.
Dr. William Craig Outstanding University Educator Award Goes to Dr. Chad Young of Nicholls State University
The Louisiana Science Teachers Association (LSTA) has awarded Dr. Chad Young, a professor of Chemistry at Nicholls State University, with the 2022 William Craig Outstanding University Educator award. The award was created to honor the memory of the late Dr. William W. Craig, a Geology professor at the University of New Orleans who had a significant impact on K-12 educators, despite his focus on research.
The award recognizes university faculty members who, like Dr. Craig, have made a difference in the careers of K-12 educators. Dr. Young was humbled by the recognition and stated that he sees it as a testament to the support of science teachers in Louisiana. He acknowledges that science teachers play a crucial role in preparing future scientists and entrepreneurs.
Dr. Young’s love for science and teaching led him to become a professor. As a child, he was drawn to science because of its predictability and how it described the physical world. He enjoyed how mathematics could be used to explain things seen in the physical world. In graduate school, he discovered his love for teaching while leading classes. He relishes being with students when they grasp new concepts.
Dr. Young earned his Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin in 2005 and his M.Div. from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 2019. He has been a physics professor at Nicholls since 2005 and has led several research projects in star formation, physics education, and the physics of human performance for NSF, NASA, LaSIP, MSP, and the Nicholls Research Council.
The Louisiana Science Teachers Association created the award to commemorate Dr. Craig’s lasting legacy on K-12 educators. Despite being a research scientist, Dr. Craig’s influence on science teachers was profound. The award recognizes university professors who, like Dr. Craig, have made a difference in K-12 educators’ careers by reaching out to them.
Dr. Young is honored to receive this award and grateful to the science teachers who make a difference in the world. He acknowledges their efforts in preparing the next generation of scientists and entrepreneurs, and he continues to lead the way in physics research and education.
Dr. Chad Young: A Shining Light in Physics Teaching at Nicholls
Dr. Chad Young, a doctoral physicist at Nicholls State University, has revolutionized the teaching of physics at the institution. Dr. Young, who has a student-centered learning approach, is an amiable person, making him easily approachable by students. His approachability and student-centered approach have earned him numerous awards, including the Nicholls Presidential Award for Teaching Excellence in 2014 and the Nicholls Apple Award for Outstanding Faculty Support for Student Activities in 2017.
Dr. John Doucet, the Dean of the College of Science and Technology, praised Dr. Young, calling him the latest shining light among all the award-winning faculty in the sciences at Nicholls. His efforts and student-centered approach to teaching have earned him the 2022 William Craig Outstanding University Educator Award from the Louisiana Science Teachers Association (LSTA). The award consists of a $100 gift certificate, an award plaque, and recognition in an upcoming LASER magazine.
Dr. Young’s arrival at Nicholls marked a significant turnaround for physics teaching at the university. Previously, the history of physics teaching at Nicholls was dominated by two long-time, traditional, and hardcore professors. Dr. Young’s arrival brought a breath of fresh air to the physics department at Nicholls, and his student-centered approach has been most deserving of recognition.
His efforts and approach to teaching have made physics, an abstract and mathematical subject, more accessible and easier for students to grasp. Dr. Young’s unique approach to teaching has made him an asset to the physics department at Nicholls and an inspiration to future physics educators.
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