Alumni have established endowments to support student success and career development in the Department of Physics and Astronomy.

Don Packwood and his late wife Lona in Pedernal, New Mexico

Donald L. and Lona Lewis Packwood Endowed Assistant Professor of Applied Physics

As alumnus and one of the co-founders of our Physics Leaders group, Don Packwood has generously contributed both his time and resources to our Department of Physics and Astronomy. His contributions are now able to endow a new position for assistant professor. The university has approved a search for this new position which will soon be underway. Don also funds an annual undergraduate student scholarship: the “Donald L. and Lona Lewis Packwood Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship Fund in Physics."

Packwood received his PhD from our department in 1971 and followed that with a career at several companies, most of it at Hewlett Packard Corporation. He received an MU-A&S Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2004, and a Distinguished Alumni Award from our department in 2020. Don received the A&S Spirit of Philanthropy Award in 2026. 

Cathy and Ron Boain

Ronald J. Boain and Catherine J. Boain Endowed PhD Dissertation Award in Physics and the Ronald J. Boain and Catherine J. Boain Endowed Student Travel Fund

Through the generosity of alumnus Ron and Cathy Boain, the Department of Physics and Astronomy presents an annual cash award for the top PhD dissertation. The Boains also established an award that enables students to attend professional conferences and travel to research sites. These funds, originally set up in 2019, are now endowed in perpetuity and will benefit our students far into the future.

Ron had a long and varied successful career in aerospace at TRW, Martin Marietta Aerospace, and the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He was the 2024 recipient of the Department of Physics & Astronomy Distinguished Alumni Award and is one of our Physics Leaders.

The Boains received the College of Arts and Science's Spirit of Philanthropy Award in 2025.