MSU physics education professor recognized with prestigious national fellowship
October 13, 2025 - Blythe White
Clausell Mathis, assistant professor of physics and physics education in Michigan State University’s Lyman Briggs College and Department of Teacher Education, has been named a Winter 2026 Fellow of the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT). He is one of only two educators nationwide to receive this honor.
AAPT Fellowships recognize exceptional contributions to physics teaching and learning. 
Mathis teaches physics and capstone courses at Lyman Briggs and science teaching methods in the Department of Teacher Education. His research centers on equitable teaching practices, emphasizing how instructors can help deepen students’ understanding of physics through drawing upon students’ cultural resources.
His current research includes three major projects:
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Curriculum development that integrates students’ cultural experiences to support learning in physics.
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Teacher identity and equity, exploring how educators’ conceptions of equity influence their teaching practices.
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Student sense-making, investigating how students work through challenging physics ideas and how cultural relevance can support their reasoning and understanding.
Mathis is a valued member of his academic units at MSU. “Dr. Mathis brings a deep commitment to integrating his cutting-edge research into his work with future Spartan secondary science teachers,” writes Kristen N. Bieda, interim chairperson of the Department of Teacher Education.
Kendra Spence Cheruvelil, dean of Lyman Briggs College, writes, “Dr. Mathis brings cultural relevance into physics education in powerful ways. His work is helping Lyman Briggs—and the broader STEM community—reimagine how we engage all learners in science.”
Mathis writes, “Being named an AAPT Fellow is a tremendous honor, and I am deeply grateful to the students, colleagues, and mentors who have shaped my journey. This recognition affirms the importance of leveraging the strengths of diverse learners to engage with physics, and it highlights the impact that collaborative scholarship can have.”
Mathis earned his Ph.D. from Florida State University and completed postdoctoral work at the University of Washington, Seattle. Prior to his doctoral studies, he taught high school and community college physics and conducted research in cellular and molecular biophysics.
He will be formally recognized at the 2026 AAPT Winter Meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada.