As an Arkansas Tech University faculty member in the challenging discipline of physics, Dr. Jessica Young had closed the door on winning student-selected awards such as ATU professor of the year.
“Physics is hard, so I’d come to a place in my career where I assumed I wasn’t going to be loved…I’m probably not even going to be liked or appreciated,” said Young. “I love physics and think physics is the most amazing thing in the world, so I was in this space of doing my thing, loving physics and hoping I could convince a few people to mildly appreciate it.”
That approach connected with her pupils, as evidenced by the fact that Arkansas Tech students voted Young ATU professor of the year for 2024-25.
“This feels amazing because somebody must have noticed,” said Young. “We have fun, even when it’s hard. (Physics) is not as scary as students think it is. I hope that is a takeaway for students who have been in my classes.”
Young earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Henderson State University before pursuing graduate study at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. She earned a Master of Science degree and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in physics.
“My dad is an engineer, and I thought I wanted to be an engineer,” said Young. “Then I started engineering school, and I decided that physics was better. In engineering, you get to use the equations. In physics, you get to make the equations. I think I was more into the why than the how.”
Young was hired as assistant professor at Arkansas Tech in 2013. Her area of expertise is physics, but her decision to teach at ATU was influenced by geography and sociology.
“I am from Arkansas, and I wanted to stay home,” said Young. “My parents are in Hot Springs, so my goal was to be as close to them as I could. I also wanted to give back to Arkansas a little bit. I think that we export a lot of good talent, and I’d like to help keep it here. This was a way for me to help.”
In the 12 years since joining the ATU faculty, Young has worked beyond the classroom on academic projects such as Students Design for Change, a multidisciplinary challenge that allowed high school students from around the State of Arkansas to design and construct a small cabin intended to provide short-term shelter for a person who is homeless; the ATU Interdisciplinary Research Series, which provided a forum for Arkansas Tech faculty members to share their scholarly findings with their colleagues; and as director for the Arkansas Junior Science and Humanities Symposium, which spotlights original research and experimentation by high school students in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Young was promoted to ATU associate professor of physics and granted tenure in 2019. Her ATU academic department has presented her with excellence awards in the categories of scholarly activity and teaching.
“For me, now, it’s just home,” said Young when asked about Arkansas Tech. “The people here in my department and in my program are good people, and I feel like we are all moving in a common direction with common goals. We love what we’re doing, so that makes it a good place to be for me.”
Young said she takes pride in watching the success her former ATU students enjoy when they post on social media about a new job, a promotion or an award.
Now that she has won ATU professor of the year, Young’s current and former students have the opportunity to celebrate her moment in the spotlight. For Young, it’s a moment that comes with clarity about work, family, life and how it all blends together.
“One of the things I’ve seen evolve is that there is a message now that it’s okay to not be everything at once,” said Young. “You can’t be 200 percent…you only have 100 percent…so figure out the best way to split it for you. That message has changed a lot, because when I was growing up the message was that you can’t do both (career and family). You can. You just have to figure out the best way to balance what works best for you.”
