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Bruce Bolon has been at Hamline since 2002. Having risen up the ranks to Associate Professor in the physics department, Bruce received a BS at Southwest Missouri State University, an MS from Iowa State University and a PhD from the University of Missouri - Columbia. He has a wealth of experience having taught the physics of sound & music (for non-science majors), both algebra-based & calculus-based general physics, engineering statics & dynamics, modern physics, optics, thermodynamics & statistical mechanics, thin films & surface physics, theoretical mechanics, electricity & magnetism, and quantum mechanics. In addition to the regular academic year, Bruce also teaches general physics (both the algebra- & calculus- based versions) I & II each summer. Bruce’s research interests include the study of magnetic thin films for potential use in spintronic devices such as magnetic storage media. Most of his hobbies involve either sports (playing racquetball and living & breathing baseball) or music (including theory, composition, playing & listening.)
Jerry Artz currently serves as Hamline University’s Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) and Hamline University’s Faculty Athletic Representative (FAR) to the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC). His teaching areas include Energy, renewable energy sources, energy policies, nuclear physics, nuclear energy, current energy research, physics for non-science majors, advanced physics courses: Quantum Mechanics, Advanced Electromagnetism, Theoretical Mechanics. A nuclear physicist originates from Dayton, Ohio. He joined Hamline in the Department of Physics at the beginning fall in 1977. He holds degrees from Cincinnati, Stanford, and Florida State, and has done post-doctoral work at Minnesota. Jerry has also served as a Visiting Professor at Notre Dame. His research experience was in Low-Energy Experimental Nuclear Physics. He has presented more than 40 papers at national and local physics meetings, industries, and universities. Jerry also has several years of service as Scientific Advisor to Counsel for the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources for the U.S. House of Representatives. He has amassed over $300,000 of Federal and State grant money to Hamline.
Dean John Matachek has served as Hamline's Provost since August 2015. Dean Matachek earned his undergraduate degree in Chemistry fr om the University of Minnesota, and his PhD in inorganic chemistry from Iowa State University. As Provost, Dean Matachek is the chief academic officer of the university, providing leadership through the establishment of academic priorities, the support of existing and the development of new innovative academic programs, and the supervision of the academic deans and the dean of students. Dr. Matachek is also responsible for the undergraduate and graduate student experience and oversees the university library and the international and diversity programs at the university.
Prior to becoming Provost, Dr. Matachek previously served as Dean of the College of Liberal Arts for six years. He has been a member of the College of Liberal Arts faculty since 1984. Dean Matachek began his career as an assistant professor in the department of chemistry. He was tenured and promoted to associate professor in 1990 and, following his promotion to full professor in 1996, became chair of the department of chemistry for the next 10 years. Professor Matachek also served as co-chair of the biochemistry program at Hamline from 2001 - 2010. In 2007 - 2008 he served as the inaugural president of the Hamline University Faculty Council.
Betsy M. Martinez-Vaz is an Associate Professor of Biology and the Co-Director of the Biochemistry Program at Hamline University. She grew up in Puerto Rico and holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Minnesota and a B.S. in Chemistry from Universidad del Turabo, Puerto Rico. Dr. Martinez-Vaz leads a successful undergraduate research laboratory at Hamline University. In collaboration with investigators at the University of Minnesota, her research group is studying plant-microbe interactions relevant to nitrogen fixation and food safety, including genetic determinants relevant to symbiosis specificity in nitrogen-fixing bacteria and the model legume, Medicago truncatula. Her most recent project focuses on investigating the transcriptional responses of enteric pathogens during survival and persistence in fresh leafy green vegetables.
Dr. Martinez-Vaz comes from a family of teachers who value academic achievement and shares the same passion especially for her students. She teaches courses in Biochemistry, Microbiology, Nutrition and Virology and she is also one of three Pre-Medical Advisors at Hamline University. She has also successfully mentored numerous students and faculty, both domestic and international, and gets immense satisfaction from seeing them graduate into careers in the fields of science, medicine and healthcare. She is committed assuring an enjoyable and goal-based learning environment for her students that encourages curiosity for the basics of Microbiology & Biochemistry and their application to daily life. Betsy is also an active member of the American Society for Microbiology and a section editor for the Journal of Microbiology and Biology Education.
