Dr. Robert Wesley Dunn

Although I was not a science major and only took one physics class my entire life (the "physics-for-non-science-major intro), Dr. Dunn made such an impact on my life and I still think of him to this day. He really piqued all of our interest in physics, and while it was hard, he made it fun. He taught us how to think about things in the world, which was the most valuable lesson. He also reminded me so much of my own dad (a military man himself who never missed an opportunity to insert a funny quip into any conversation) who was the same age and also passed away a couple months ago at age 81. They don´t make guys like that anymore. May his memory be a blessing.

I am very grateful for the opportunity to learn from Dr. Dunn. He was such a wonderful teacher that always included humor in every class. Your family is in my thoughts and prayers.

Dr. Dunn was my research mentor and professor during my time at Hendrix. He was always willing to spend extra time answering questions and having discussions which inspired me continue my research and education. I owe a lot of my current career to him as he encouraged me to apply to graduate school with one of his research colleagues, and I am now ten years into my career in geophysics. I will remember him as a patient person whose generosity, humility, and kindness were at the forefront. My thoughts are with his family.

Bob was a physicist at Hendrix when I started teaching there. I am in the psychology department and often physicists don't treat psychology like a science--especially back then. But Bob was different. He encouraged me to apply for a grant that he helped to manage, some years he gave up money for his own research to encourage me to apply for what he could have had himself. He'd say "Jennifer, I've been drinking from this trough for years, it's your turn". He didn't have to do that. He didn't have to respect my part of science, it wasn't in the culture of physicists out in the world. He didn't have to want to mentor me to be a committed researcher while being at a place that values teaching far above research. It was remarkable and not something to be forgotten. My thoughts and prayers with his family.

I remember Bob as a great colleague at Hendrix College, always interested in helping students and encouraging their research. He was a physics teacher par excellence!