Prof. Craig Fennie, applied physics, died on Sunday at age 54 due to a heart attack, according to the Cornell Chronicle. He taught in the School of Applied and Engineering Physics and served as director of undergraduate studies for the Duffield College of Engineering.
Fennie joined Cornell’s faculty in 2008 and received the Young Investigator Award from the Army Research Office in 2010, the Faculty Early Career Development Award from the National Science Foundation in 2011, the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers from former President Barack Obama in 2012 and the MacArthur Fellowship in 2013, according to the Chronicle. In 2015, Fennie was elected a fellow of the American Physical Society.
“As a colleague and a person, he was genuinely kind and generous, always willing to lend a helping hand,” said Chris Xu, the director of the School of Applied Engineering and Physics, to the Chronicle.
Fennie would encourage students through his graduation speeches, many of which Lois Pollack, associate dean of research and graduate studies, remembered fondly.
“He delighted in reassuring parents that not every student finds their passion immediately, and gently encouraged patience as they made their way,” Pollack told the Chronicle.
Fennie was a pioneer in computational and theoretical material physics, and throughout his research, he developed unique methods to help scientists discover and design materials, according to the Chronicle.
He received the MacArthur Fellowship, commonly known as the “genius grant,” in 2013 for his research using quantum mechanics to identify new materials in which he could develop desirable electrical, magnetic or optical properties.
Fennie did not embrace the term “genius,” according to the Chronicle, but rather emphasized how grateful he was to do his work.
His career path was not a typical one, and he grew up in working-class neighborhoods in Philadelphia, eventually earning a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in electrical engineering at Villanova in 1993 and 1996, respectively. He took several years off, working as a bouncer and at a small engineering company while also playing guitar in a band, according to the Chronicle.
He returned to graduate school at Rutgers University and received his Ph.D in physics in 2006, where he also received the Richard H. Plano prize for best Ph.D dissertation according to the in judgment of the physics graduate facility.
Fennie had an affinity for punk rock as well, and could be seen working or around campus wearing punk rock t-shirts.
“Craig’s path was unique. In many ways, he modeled our ‘any person …’ founding creed at Cornell,” Lynden Archer, the Joseph Silbert dean of engineering, told the Chronicle. “He was not just known for his creative mind, but for his kindness and humanity – a brilliant, yet grounded member of our campus community. We will miss him tremendously.”
Everett Chambala is an assistant news editor for the 144th board. He is working as the primary summer reporter for The Cornell Daily Sun through The Sun’s summer fellowship program.
Everett Chambala is a member of the Class of 2027 in the School of Industrial and Labor Relations. He is a staff writer for the News department and can be reached at echambala@cornellsun.com.
