Rate My Professor Matt Nehring

Dr. Matt Nehring is a Professor of Physics at Adams State University, a position he has held since joining the faculty on August 12, 1998. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Colorado Boulder in 1995 and his B.S. from the Colorado School of Mines in 1990. Throughout his tenure, Nehring has taken on significant leadership roles, including serving as the current Department Chair of Engineering and Computer Science, located in Porter Hall Room 108. In this capacity, he oversees the Mechanical Engineering program developed in partnership with Colorado State University, providing students with access to engineering degrees on the Adams State campus. He has also been listed as Program Chair for Geoscience and previously as Academic Department Chair for Chemistry, Computer Science, and Mathematics. Nehring's administrative experience extends to serving as Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs and Interim President, during which he contributed to the university's financial action plan to restore fiscal health. As a long-standing faculty member with nearly 20 years in physics by 2018, he has been instrumental in various departmental initiatives.

In addition to his teaching and leadership duties, Dr. Nehring has advanced STEM research and education through key grant-funded projects. He serves as the Principal Investigator for the NSF ADVANCE IT-Catalyst program at Adams State University, focusing on institutional transformation to promote gender equity and diversity among faculty in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Social and Behavioral Sciences. He also acted as Principal Investigator for the 'Robotics Laboratory to Enhance the STEM Research Experience,' developing multi-robot systems for applications such as search-and-rescue and video surveillance challenges. Previously, as Director of the ASU Observatory and Zacheis Planetarium, Nehring organized public telescope viewings and educational events. His hands-on approach is evident in supporting students with electronic boards in first-year seminars, utilizing the new engineering center's machine shop and jet engine facilities. These efforts support Adams State University's role as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, expanding access to STEM fields in the San Luis Valley.