CRR Mike Shay was recently named a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union (AGU), a prestigious honor from the largest Earth and space sciences association in the world. A University of Delaware (UD) physics professor, Shay is an expert in plasma physics in space and was cited “for major breakthroughs and sustained impact in understanding magnetic reconnection in space.”
Shay was formally recognized in San Francisco during the AGU’s annual meeting last week, which drew thousands of participants from 100 countries.
“I am honored and frankly somewhat overwhelmed to receive this recognition,” Shay said. “I feel very lucky to have so many great scientists as both colleagues and friends. They have been and continue to be an inspiration to me.”
Honored by the UD Women’s Caucus, CRR Shannon Lennon, professor of kinesiology and applied physiology, was named the 2023 recipient of the Torch Award for advancing women’s equality on campus.
She has always felt strongly about supporting and promoting women at UD and puts her beliefs into practice as chair of the Institutional Review Board and director of the Cardiovascular Nutrition Lab at UD.
“I’m committed to diversity, equity and inclusion issues,” she said. “Within our research, we must work harder to recruit diverse research subjects and ensure our research opportunities are open to all people, and that means we have to appeal to them and get them interested in our work.
“Within the Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, I reach out to junior female faculty members and serve as a resource to them. I’m also vocal at department meetings about advocating for issues that are important to women.”
Congratulations to both of you!


The Annual Scott Mackler 5K was contested on October 21. This race continues in memory of CRR Scott Mackler who had battled ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) for years before his death and added significantly to the quest to find a cure, not only through his own research, but through the proceeds from this race—the toughest road 5K in Delaware.
In the men’s field, CRR Ryan German won the 40-49 age group, placing 10th overall in 22:38.


CRR Mike Shay, who received a new Creek Road T-shirt during his initial