AAMU Physics Professor, Former Dean, and STEM Day Founder Earns Prestigious National Honor
Edwards Named Fellow of the National Society of Black Physicists
Alabama A&M University (AAMU) Professor Dr. Matthew Edwards has been named a Fellow of the National Society of Black Physicists (NSBP), one of the organization’s highest and most selective honors. He is the first faculty member from AAMU to receive this recognition, joining a distinguished group of only 53 NSBP Fellows since the first induction in 1992. The fellow designation, a lifetime honor, recognizes five decades of teaching, research, and service, including his contributions to advancing diversity in physics.
Since joining AAMU in 2002, Edwards – who serves as president of the Alabama Academy of Science – has been a professor of physics and was dean of the School of Arts and Sciences from 2007 to 2011. He founded STEM Day in 2006, an annual event designed to inspire young students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Over his career at AAMU, he has guided eight students to advanced degrees in physics – five earning PH.D.s and three completing master’s degrees. He has served on more than 20 thesis and dissertation committees, published 51 refereed papers, and delivered more than 60 conference presentations in scholarly works. His research focuses on electro-optics of microemulsions and non-centrosymmetric crystals, spatial soliton wave theory, and dopant effects on the pyroelectric effects in organic thin films.
Currently, Edwards leads a collaborative research program with Brookhaven National Laboratory, studying how perovskite dopants influence the pyroelectric coefficient of Polyvinylidene Difluoride (PVDF) organic thin films for applications in sensor science and detectors. He also continues to teach courses in quantum mechanics, electricity and magnetism, physical science II and mathematical methods, sharing his passion for physics with both graduate and undergraduate students.
Edwards’ NSBP fellowship was announced ahead of the society’s annual meeting in San Jose, California, where he will be officially installed on Nov. 22. Reflecting on the nomination, he said, “A former president of NSBP and fellow, who also serves as chairperson of the Physics and Astronomy Department at Howard University, where I earned my master’s and Ph.D., emailed me in July stating he wished to nominate me for fellowship. I immediately replied that I was interested and asked what was required. He explained everything I needed, including providing an updated resume and a list of people for recommendation letters. After several months, I finally learned I had been selected – though amusingly, the official notification email had gone to my junk mail, so I didn’t see it right away! Although I try to remain balanced with praise, I was overjoyed when I learned I was elevated to fellow,” he said.
In the days following the fellow designation, Edwards received an outpouring of congratulations from colleagues both on campus and nationwide. Dr. Padmaja Guggilla, chair of AAMU’s Physics Department, said, “Dr. Edwards’s dedication to advancing diversity in physics and mentoring generations of students has left an indelible mark on both our University and the broader scientific community. He is the first faculty member from Alabama A&M University’s physics program to be elevated to NSBP Fellow; a milestone that brings great pride to our department and institution, especially as we celebrate the 150th anniversary of AAMU.”
Before joining AAMU, Edwards taught at the University of Pittsburgh and spent 26 years at other HBCUs including Spelman College and Fayetteville State University, mentoring students and conducting research. Reflecting on his time at AAMU, he said, “I enjoy every day here, and if I had to do it all over again, I would still choose Alabama A&M University.”
Edwards’ passion for mathematics and physics began in his youth in rural communities, near Goldsboro, North Carolina. He graduated from Central High School, a school that no longer exists, but whose alumni network remains strong. “I fell in love with mathematics in sixth grade, while studying improper fractions and mixed numbers,” he recalled. “By 12th grade, I was captivated by physics. Learning the sine and cosine laws and seeing how they could solve any triangle, as opposed to the Pythagorean theorem which applied only to right triangles, was transformative for me.” He earned his undergraduate degree in engineering physics from North Carolina A&T State University and completed both his master’s and Ph.D. at Howard University.
Edwards has two grown children, Matthew Jr. and Natasha Hall, who is married to Daniel Hall. He and his wife, Glenda Edwards of Bogalusa, Louisiana, also fondly remember their adopted son, Courtland Cutler.
Looking ahead, Edwards plans to continue his research in quantum physics, quantum computing, and the pyroelectric effect while mentoring students and colleagues. “Throughout my career, my goal has been to honor my family, colleagues, and students by using my love for mathematics to contribute to science, education, and the broader community,” he said. “This fellow designation is an affirmation of that lifelong pursuit.”