May 29, 2007 - Claremont, Calif. - Professor of Physics Daniel C. (Dan) Petersen retired from full-time teaching at Harvey Mudd College, effective at the end of the academic year, it was announced in April by Robert Cave, vice president for academic affairs and dean of faculty.

According to Cave, "Dan has been a member of the physics faculty since 1974 and has been a wonderful contributor to the life of the college. In addition to his teaching and research, where he has helped us maintain high standards and has engaged in ground-breaking research in biophysics, Dan will leave an indelible imprint on the college as a whole.

"He was co-chair of the 1998 curriculum revision committee and was instrumental in developing the Integrative Experience, which has had such a positive effect on our students. He was also the driving force for the development of our Study Abroad program, and one of its keenest supporters. We will miss him a great deal, but we are very fortunate to have had him as a member of the HMC faculty, and hope to keep him tied to us through the Building L.A. course, as well as other endeavors."

A retirement gathering for Petersen (pictured at right with his wife Lissa) was held in the Platt Campus Center on May 9, during which faculty and friends shared their experiences of working with him. Speakers included Cave, President Maria Klawe, Professor of Physics and Department of Physics Chair John Townsend, Professor of Physics Richard Haskell, Professor of Literature and Chair of the Faculty Jeffrey Groves and Louisa and Robert Miller Professor of Humanities Hal Barron.

In other faculty news, Cave announced the appointment of new chairs of three academic departments at HMC.

"I am thrilled that each of the folks listed below has agreed to serve - they bring passion for institution, experience, and wisdom and I look forward to working with them," Cave said in his announcement. "I hope you will join me in congratulating them and wishing them well as they assume their new duties."

Professor Steven Adolph will become interim chair of the Department of Biology. Adolph has served as interim chair in the past for biology and will take on the role in the coming year.

Professor Hal Van Ryswyk has been selected as the chair of Department of Chemistry. Van Ryswyk spent the 2007-08 academic year on sabbatical at Northwestern University.

Professor Andrew Bernoff has been selected as chair of the Department of Mathematics, beginning July 2009. Bernoff will be on sabbatical in the coming year and Professor Lisette dePillis will serve as interim chair for 2008-09.

"I also hope you will take the time to thank the chairs who are leaving office in the coming year - David Asai, Bill Daub and Alfonso Castro," Cave added. "Each has served the institution with dedication and vision and each has been critically important to the college as we have undergone a variety of changes in the past several years. They will be missed."

In other news, at its May meeting, the Educational Planning Committee of the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to promote four HMC faculty members to the rank of full professor, effective July 1, 2008. They are: Mary Williams (biology), Peter Saeta (physics), Darryl Wright (humanities and social sciences) and Tom Donnelly (physics).