Ron Mickens (center), as he was presented the award by David Ernst and Tom Clegg, SESAPS Vice-Chair and Chair, respectively.

Ronald E. Mickens, the Fuller T. Callaway Distinguished Professor of Physics at Clark Atlanta University, was chosen to receive the 2007 Francis Slack award of the Southeastern Section of the APS (SESAPS) for outstanding service to physics in the Southeast. The award was presented on November 9 at the 2007 SESAPS fall meeting in Nashville.

Professor Mickens received this award in recog­nition of his many contributions to physics in the Southeast. His leadership as a theoretical physi­cist, particularly in developing difference equa­tion methods of use to scientists and engineers, has enor­mously strengthened physics in his institution, Clark Atlanta University.  He has contributed to the intellectual vitality of SESAPS as a partici­pat­ing physicist, as Chair of the section, and as Chair of the archives committee. In this last role he oversaw the transfer of SESAPS records to the Niels Bohr Library, where they will be available for historical use. Finally, he has been active in efforts on the national level to engage more African Americans in physics.

Professor Mickens was a member of the faculty at Fisk University from 1970 to 1980, has been a visiting scholar at MIT, Morehouse, Vanderbilt, and the Joint Institute for Laboratory Astro­physics.  He joined the faculty of Clark Atlanta in 1982, and has held his present position since 1985.