CONGRATULATIONS TO DR. JAMES H. STITH
MMHMF Board Chairman Emeritus
Penn State University (PSU) Distinguish Graduate Award (2023), Guest Speaker for the 2020 Graduate School Graduation (2020), Wall of Fame (2023) and More!
Dr. James H. Stith, MMHMF Board Chairman Emeritus received the “Distinguished Graduate,” award during a ceremony at The Pennsylvania State University (PSU) in June, the highest award given to a graduate by the PSU Board of Trustees. He was named an “Alumnus Fellow,” the highest award given by the PSU Alumni Association. Dr. Stith was the guest speaker for the University’s graduate school graduation ceremony for the 2020 graduates.
Also added to his extensive list of honors, in 2023 was being listed on the James Solomon Russell-Saint Paul’s College “Wall of Fame,” and the PSU “Wall of Honor.”
Dr. James H. Stith is a product of Brunswick County, Virginia. The son of tobacco farmers, he obtained his early education at the three-room Oak Grove Elementary School. Stith earned his BS and MS degrees in physics from Virginia State College in 1963 and 1965, respectively. His Doctorate in Physics Education was earned at The Pennsylvania State University (PSU) in 1972. He was the first African American to earn tenure at the United States Military Academy and the first African American elected president of the American Association of Physics Teachers, then an 11,000 international society of physics educators. Dr. Stith received the Doctor of Humane Letters from Virginia State University and received the Presidential Citation from the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education in recognition of exemplary experiences that honored VSU. He was recognized as “One of the 50 most important Blacks in Research Science” and named a “Science Spectrum Trailblazer” by Science Spectrum Magazine. He was named an “Alumni Fellow,” the highest award given by the PSU Alumni Association, and a “Distinguished Graduate,” the highest award given to a graduate by the PSU Board of Trustees. He was elevated to “Fellow” status by the American Physical Society, the American Association of Physics Teachers, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the National Society of Black Physicists, and the African Scientific Institute. He is a life member of VSUAA and the VSU Military Alumni Chapter and served as the Prince George’s County Maryland Alumni Chapter president for two years (Named Large Chapter President of the Year). Stith is featured on the VSU Military “Wall of Fame,” the James Solomon Russell-Saint Paul’s College “Wall of Fame,” and the PSU “Wall of Honor.” He was cited by the Urban Education Institute: African American Males in the Stem Professions for his “…numerous and inspirational contributions to raising the achievement and performance levels of African American males in the STEM fields.” Throughout his career, Dr. Stith has been an advocate for programs that ensure ethnic and gender diversity in the sciences. An internationally known physicist and leading authority on physics education, Stith has served on numerous National and International Advisory Boards. He has conducted workshops in Canada, China, Columbia, Ghana, Venezuela, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Italy, South Africa, and Cuba. His vita lists over one hundred invited talks and publications. His work with the National Research Council resulted in Science Standards (K-12) for the Nation. For the first time, the Standards document established national guidelines by which exemplary teaching, effective assessment, and student knowledge can be measured. His military awards include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Force Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal. Dr. Stith retired from the Army with the rank of Colonel and was named “Vice President Emeritus” upon his retirement from the American Institute of Physics.
