APS Outreach Guide Project Management

Alan Chodos
Alan is the Associate Executive Officer of the APS. Before winding up his Smart car and heading to the office each morning, he has Napoleonic visions of APS News conquering The NY Times and the Washington Post.

Alaina G. Levine, Project Lead
Alaina is the President of Quantum Success Solutions, a public speaking, leadership development, and corporate comedy company. She also serves as the Director of Special Projects of the College of Science and Director of the Professional Science Master’s Program in Applied Science and Business at the University of Arizona (UA). She is an Eller Entrepreneurial Scholar and designed and teaches an entrepreneurship course for science graduate students, the only such class to be headquartered in a physics department in the US. The author of over 60 articles, Alaina currently writes the “Profiles in Diversity” column for APS News and is a sought-after speaker on topics ranging from leadership development for scientists to diversity and innovation. She is a former President of the UA Chapter of the Society of Physics Students. She holds degrees in Mathematics and Anthropology from the UA and studied at the American University in Cairo on a Department of Defense Fellowship.

Becky Thompson-Flagg
Becky is the Head of Public Outreach for the APS. After years of alligator wrestling, she decided on a career switch to receive a duel PhD in physics and guitar hero studies. She used her new found talents to launch a career as half of the famed tight rope walking act CP Violators. After an unfortunate incident with a toaster, she decided to settle down and joined the APS team where she still plays with fire at her desk and talks to her fish. In her free time, she is a champion cage fighter and avid knitter.

Chris Discenza
Chris works in the office of Public Outreach at the APS where he manages the PhysicsCentral website and helps produce programs for students and teachers such as Physics Quest. Chris has performed physics demonstrations for the public since his undergraduate days as a math student at the University of Arizona. He taught physics and mathematics for several years while at the same time he co-founded a nonprofit organization called the Physics Factory that brings the enthusiasm of physics to kids across the nation. Over the years, he has organized many physics demonstration events including Physics Phun Nite and Physics Phun Day.

We would also like to express appreciation to all the Experts who contributed to this Guide. Thank you for sharing your advice and expertise with the physics community!