Alan Bruns

Emeriti Faculty

 Dr. Bruns retired in 1989.  He and his wife, Roberta live in Lancaster.  

SOCRATES CITATION

In Honor of

C. ALAN BRUNS

1994 COMMENCEMENT

FRANKLIN AND MARSHALL COLLEGE

 

 

Professor C. Alan Bruns has been and is a dedicated teacher.  He came to Franklin and Marshall ion 1964, after receiving his PH.D. at the Johns Hopkins University and spending three years at the University of Michigan, to a department in need of lecture demonstrations especially for the introductory course in physics.  He proceeded to develop, catalogue and write instructions for nearly 200 to be used by all staff members.  He has worked diligently through the years to maintain and improve upon this collection.  He also had a major hand in organizing equipment and developing new experiments for the introductory laboratory.  With his background in nuclear physics, he developed a laboratory for the course and wrote a detailed manual that he has continued to improve and update.  He also developed the laboratory for the optics course, again with an excellent manual.  He was involved in the design of the department's space in the Pfeiffer Science complex and served as chair of the department from 1979-1982.

 

   In addition to his on-going activities from which the whole department greatly benefited, and regular teaching duties, Professor Bruns has interacted with numerous students individually.  He advised 17 independent studies projects ranging from "Computer-Generated Holography" to "Scientific Thought."  He taught in the Masters of Science program and advised three masters' thesis projects.  He has participated repeatedly in the STEP program both as an instructor and as the departmental liaison.  He was the supervisor for a High School Summer Intern, as well as supervising Hackman and Dana Scholars.

 

   A long-time interest of Professor Bruns has been the pre-healing arts students.  He helped create the Pre-healing Arts Club in 1974 and served as its adviser from 1974 through 1991.  He helped institute the Medical Preceptors Program in 1983 and served on the Pre-healing Arts Policy Committee for many years.  When asked to write a recommendation for a student for medical school, he interviews the student and carefully reviews the student's record before beginning his thoughtfully considered letter.  The students appreciate his efforts and hold him in high regard.  A number of this years seniors organized a local chapter of Alpha Epsilon Delta, a pre-medical honor society, and have made Professor Bruns an honorary member, an honor which he deeply appreciates.

 

   Professor Bruns has served the College and the broader community in ways too numerous to list all of them.  He served on several college committees, presented more than 30 talks to local schools children and civic organizations, and ran IU-13 school physics teachers monthly symposia to name a few.  He is a man of great dedication who will surely continue to be an active member of the Lancaster Community for years to come.  We wish him well.