Very few people recall the first stages of the Salazar Hall's construction, or what the campus may have looked like when it was comprised mainly of open fields. However, for Physics Professor, Joe Tenn, these early images are all too familiar.
"When I got here in 1970, there was only half of Salazar: no dorms, no library, and just a bunch of empty fields all around the campus," said Tenn. "There was no student government and the student newspaper had been closed down for some administrative reason. The average student age was 26 and faculty was 29."
When he first arrived at Sonoma State on February of 1970, Tenn had just finished graduate school. "This was unlike most other professors in the field of science, who typically after graduate school, went on to do research in their field," said Tenn.
Tenn's major contribution to the physics and astronomy department came in the spring semester of 1971 when he created the "What Physicists Do" lecture series. Since he was a new graduate at the time, he was well aware that bringing professional astrophysicists to SSU would have a positive educational impact on students.
The lecture series has been active ever since its initiation, and last week on Mon., May 4, 2009, the lecture series completed its thirty-ninth year of bringing cutting-edge education to students and the public. As part of Tenn's going-away gift to his colleagues and friends, he personally closed the lecture series with recollections of projects he has accomplished and changes he has witnessed over the years.
Beyond all of the transformations Tenn has witnessed over his tenure, after his retirement he will miss students the most. According to Tenn, his real pride and joy is teaching and seeing graduates prosper.
By staying in contact with the graduates for nearly four decades, Tenn is able to learn valuable information that may help current students.
"You have to be prepared for change. Learn the basics and be adaptable," said Tenn. "A lot of our graduating students will go on to work in fields that don't even exist yet."
Overall, Tenn feels honored to have had the opportunity to influence students, the physics department and the community. He has even offered to remain the gatekeeper for the physics department's connection with earlier graduates.
As for the future of the physics and astronomy department after his departure, Tenn feels they will need to overcome some minor challenges.
"Our department is shrinking, and there are others who have retired in the previous years," said Tenn. However, he has high hopes that the state budget will improve so that they can continue to provide great teaching and research options for physics majors.
According to Tenn, the current department faculty is working diligently to fix these minor setbacks. Physics and astronomy professor, Scott Severson, recently joined Sonoma State and is leading some major projects that will ensure positive growth of the department in the future. Though Tenn is retiring, his influence in the field of physics will not end.
"I have a fair amount of things I am involved with," said Tenn. "I am now heavily involved on the history of astronomy, and the history of astronomy community. I am also [the] secretary of treasury with the Historical Astronomy Division, as well as the editor for some webpages, newsletter articles and [a] magazine."
Tenn has seen many changes at SSU, yet he has enjoyed being part of the school. The Sonoma State community will miss Tenn as he concludes his formal teaching role on May 23, 2009. By then, Tenn will have completed 39 years of teaching, leaving behind a legacy that will continue to influence the education of SSU's students and the community.
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