Faculty Sponsors

Dr. Larry Isenhower is an assistant professor at Abilene Christian University. He earned a B.S. in physics from ACU and a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He transitioned into a postdoc then a research scientist position at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, working with a group building a neutral atom quantum computer. His primary research interest lies in applications of Rydberg state atoms, which are atoms in highly excited states that are very sensitive to perturbations of their environment due to their weak binding. He joined the faculty at ACU in 2014 and was responsible for developing the new senior capstone course sequence for the physics degrees, which involves research projects leading to student opportunities for publication. Dr. Isenhower became SPS advisor in 2017, and he has used this role to encourage students to learn many important skills related to leadership and outreach. For the past two years, he helped organize and lead a traveling physics road show with a group of SPS students that has targeted rural areas of Texas. ACU’s SPS club has received an outstanding chapter award for 6 consecutive years. In addition, Dr. Isenhower has been elected an SPS Zone Councilor for Zone 13 in 2019.

Dr. Drachenberg began his work with SPS as an ACU undergraduate, serving as chaplain and vice president and being inducted into Sigma Pi Sigma. He even met his wife, the Real Dr. Drachenberg, in SPS chapel. He earned a B.S. in physics from ACU and later earned a Ph.D in physics from Texas A&M. "Dr. Drach" returned to ACU as a professor in 2018 and enjoys co-sponsoring SPS activities with the current generation of ACU Engineering and Physics students, participating in weekly chapter meetings, SPS chapel, and Cosmic Cafe. In his spare time, he serves as deputy spokesperson for the STAR Collaboration at Brookhaven National Laboratory, attempting to push back the frontiers of nuclear physics.

Dr. Tim Head first became an SPS and Sigma Pi Sigma member in the Texas Tech chapters of those organizations. He fondly remembers the edible car contest that happened annually in that chapter and was president of that chapter for one year. Since 2008, he has served as a co-advisor for the SPS and Sigma Pi Sigma Chapters. He served as SPS Councilor for the Zone 13 (Texas) region of SPS in the national organization from 2011-2017. In 2014 and 2016, Dr. Head was nominated for the Outstanding Chapter Advisor Award which is one of his greatest honors. He continues be an active supporter of both SPS and Sigma Pi Sigma and values highly the professional relationships and growth built through the SPS organization with students and physicists from around the country.