Rate My Professor Charles De Leone

Charles De Leone, Ph.D., is a Professor of Physics in the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics at California State University, San Marcos (CSUSM). He holds the position of Dean of Graduate Studies and Research, with a permanent appointment announced in August 2022 following an interim role. Previously, he served as Chair of the Physics Department, where he led initiatives including a $1.95 million NSF grant for STEM education programs in partnership with Palomar College, focusing on recruiting and transfer agreements. De Leone earned his B.S. from Santa Clara University and his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of California, Davis. During his doctoral studies, he worked as a teaching assistant, developing course materials and instructing in discussions and laboratories.

De Leone's research centers on physics education, particularly the adaptation and evaluation of reformed introductory physics curricula. He served as sole principal investigator for the Implementation of U.C. Davis Model Reformed Physics Course. Notable publications include Sixteen Years of Collaborative Learning through Active Sense-Making in an Introductory Physics Class (American Journal of Physics, 82, 153, 2014), documenting sustained use of interactive methods; Archiving Student Solutions with Tablet PCs in a Discussion-Based Introductory Physics Class (AIP Conference Proceedings, 1064, 175, 2008, with Edward Price), on technology in learning; and contributions to Toward Understanding Student Conceptions of the Photoelectric Effect and Successful STEM Student Pathways at Physics Education Research Conferences. He has obtained grants such as the American Physical Society Innovation Fund (2021, with Justin Perron and Shahed Sharif) for quantum education and a Department of Energy grant (2023) for science education expansion. Awards include a Cal State honor for innovative teaching in 2006 and designation as an inaugural OTRES Faculty Fellow at CSUSM. His efforts support Learning Assistant programs and events like robot expos to engage students in physics applications.