UW’s Bicer Receives Ellbogen Meritorious Classroom Teaching Award

Physics may not necessarily be a favorite class, but University of Wyoming students who have taken Aysenur Bicer’s physics courses say she has made the subject more palatable.

Bicer, an assistant lecturer in UW’s Department of Physics and Astronomy, is among four recipients of the John P. Ellbogen Meritorious Classroom Teaching Award, established in 1977 by businessman John P. “Jack” Ellbogen to "foster, encourage and reward excellence in classroom teaching at UW."

“She has demonstrated that she is an excellent lecturer since she joined UW five years ago in January 2019,” says Jinke Tang, a professor and head of the Department of Physics and Astronomy, who nominated Bicer. “Her teaching evaluation is superb and has consistently ranked well above both the departmental and college averages. Indeed, she is well liked by her students.”

Bicer currently teaches “General Physics II.” During 2023, she taught “General Physics I” and “Engineering Physics I.”

Danny Dale, one of Bicer’s nominators, praises her for improving student grade results in the “General Physics I” and “II” courses.

“For several years preceding her arrival to UW, the student evaluations for this two-course sequence ranged from dismal to not great,” says Dale, the Harry C. Vaughan Professor of Astronomy and an associate dean of the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences. “And, as department head, I had to deal with multiple very grumpy students each semester who had issues with previous instructors. I can attest that Aysenur’s evaluations for the courses she teaches are remarkable.”

One student admits that she was not excited about having to take physics in college. She defines physics as “daunting” and says she walked into Bicer’s “General Physics I” class as a freshman “incredibly intimidated” and “completely terrified.”

“However, almost immediately after the start of the first class, I felt that I could breathe a sigh of relief,” the student wrote in her nomination letter. “Dr. Bicer has a calming presence that makes you feel comfortable and ready to learn, and I was able to quickly move past my fear and really enjoy the subject.”

“Although physics isn’t my favorite subject, I always look forward to her class. Beyond being an excellent professor, she is an especially kind person and takes an interest in her students’ lives,” another student wrote. “The first day of class this semester, the classroom was full, with around 75 students. At the end of the lecture, she went around the classroom to make sure she knew everyone’s name.”

Bicer serves on the department’s Undergraduate Program Committee and the search committee for a lab coordinator; sits on the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences’ Academic Program Committee; and is a faculty adviser to the Society of Physics Students.

Bicer received her Ph.D. and master’s degree in physics, both from Texas A&M University; and a master’s degree in physics education and a bachelor’s degree in physics, both from Egean University in Turkey.