Charles Henderson

Photo of Charles Henderson
Charles Henderson
Professor of Physics
Office: 
(269) 387-4951
Location: 
1129 Everett Tower, Mail Stop 5252
Mailing address: 
Department of Physics
Western Michigan University
1903 W Michigan Ave
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5252 USA
Education: 
  • Ph.D., Physics Education, University of Minnesota, 2002
  • M.S., Physics, University of Minnesota, 1994
  • B.A., Math/Physics, Macalester College, 1991
Teaching interests: 
  • Teaching and learning of physics
  • Introductory physics
  • Research in science education
Research interests: 
  • Physics education research
  • Change in higher education
  • Discipline-based education research
Bio: 

Dr. Charles Henderson is a professor of physics education research holding a joint appointment in the Department of Physics and the Mallinson Institute for Science Education at Western Michigan University. He is the co-founder and co-director of the WMU Center for Research on Instructional Change in Postsecondary Education.

Henderson has been trained in and has experience in qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods educational research, including survey and instrument development. His research program focuses on understanding and promoting instructional change in higher education, with much activity aimed at improving the slow incorporation of research-based instructional reforms into college-level STEM courses.

Henderson’s work has been supported by more than $7 million in external grants resulting in many publications. In spring 2010, he was a Fulbright Scholar with the Finnish Institute for Educational Research at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland. He is the senior editor for the journal Physical Review Special Topics—Physics Education Research and has served as a member of the National Research Council Committee on Undergraduate Physics Education Research and Implementation.

Henderson's personal page