CRSM is proud to announce Kumkum Bonnerjee, CRSM physics teacher, has been awarded a prestigious teaching fellowship through the University of Illinois. Its mission is to provide access to high-quality, advanced physics instruction in high school, and to open pathways for students into engineering.
The announcement came last week when the Illinois Physics and Secondary Schools Partnership Program named its fourth cohort of teaching fellows. Funded by the National Science Foundation, IPASS brings together Illinois high school science teachers to participate in intensive professional development experiences structured around research-based, university-level instructional materials.
Kumkum was nominated by CRSM alum, José Anaya, who cited her strong drive to support students and improve physics instruction at the school.
A native of Calcutta, India, Kumkum has always been inspired by physics. She received her master’s in Physics from the Indian Institute of Technology, India. While raising her then grade-school-aged children, she went back to school and received her teaching certificate from DePaul University. She joined the CRSM science department in 2007.
“I’m very blessed to be where I am today, and the students inspire me so much,” says KumKum. “I’ve learned that students rise to your expectations, and that the only time you lose is when you give up.”