Old Dominion University professor Hari Areti was recently selected to receive the Francis G. Slack Award, established by the Southeastern Section of the American Physical Society, to honor excellence in service to Physics in the Southeastern U.S.
Areti, a senior scientist at Jefferson Lab and professor at Old Dominion's Center for Accelerator Sciences, was recognized not only for the advancement of accelerator science and physics in the region, but for his efforts to engage and mentor students in the field.
The award citation recognizes Areti's many accomplishments and reads, "He is a dedicated promoter of undergraduate and graduate education, continues to work towards the goal of increasing the participation of underrepresented minorities in physics, and advancing physics opportunities in the Southeast."
Since 2008, Areti has served as the head of Jefferson Lab's Student Affairs office. In that capacity, he works with undergraduate and graduate students at the lab and also administers the accelerator division's graduate student program.
Areti is passionate about undergraduate student research and has regularly organized summer programs to encourage student interest in physics. He has also been active in working to increase the number of underrepresented minorities in accelerator science and to establish a faculty bridge position between Jefferson Lab and Morehouse College, an HBCU (historically black colleges and universities).