Kent L. Gee is a professor of physics and the current chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Brigham Young University. Now a nationally recognized scholar, Gee admits that he didn’t excel in physics early on. His interest and abilities grew, however, leading him to earn both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in physics from BYU. During graduate school, a mentor suggested he consider teaching—lighting a spark that, after earning a PhD in Acoustics from Penn State in 2005, ultimately led him back to BYU.
Dr. Gee’s research centers on the science of sound, particularly the measurement and modeling of high-amplitude noise from sources like military jets, rockets, and even volcanoes. His research group, the BYU Physics and Aerospace Student-Centered Acoustics Laboratory, has published over 120 scholarly articles and received more than $7 million in external research funding. His contributions have earned him numerous accolades, including the Karl G. Maeser Distinguished Faculty Lecturer Award—BYU’s highest faculty honor—and election as a fellow of both the Acoustical Society of America and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
Beyond the lab, Dr. Gee is deeply committed to students. He mentors dozens of undergraduate and graduate students and actively involves them in his research. He has also brought the excitement of physics and sound to thousands of K–12 students through outreach demonstrations. His student-centered focus has earned him recognition not just as a respected scholar, but as an outstanding teacher and mentor—one who inspires others to become their best selves, both intellectually and spiritually.
