Kenneth Connor was a professor in the Department of Electrical, Computer, and Systems Engineering (ECSE) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) from 1974 to 2018. He taught courses on electromagnetics, electronics and instrumentation, plasma physics, electric power, and general engineering. His research focused on three topics. First is the application of heavy particle beam based diagnostics to plasmas of interest to the thermonuclear fusion community, for which he was made a Fellow of the IEEE in 1997. The purpose of this diagnostic (called the Heavy Ion Beam Probe) is to characterize the electric and magnetic field structures and the electron density of the plasma. Both equilibrium values and fluctuations in these quantities can be measured. Second is the study of electromagnetic phenomena, especially those associated with high frequency RF waves, light and bioinstrumentation. Third is engineering education, diversity in the engineering workforce, and technology enhanced learning. Dr. Connor also maintains an interest in other plasma physics and electromagnetics topics, photonics and the history of technology. He has had the great good fortune to work with wonderful colleagues at a very large number of institutions, including, but not limited to, US National Labs (e.g. Oak Ridge and Livermore), companies (e.g. Analog Devices, Kodak) and Universities (e.g. Texas, Wisconsin, Boston University, New Mexico, Howard, Morgan State, Rose-Hulman, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, Duke, Albany, Arizona State ...), Kyoto and Nagoya Universities in Japan, the Ioffe Institute in Russia and Kharkov Institute of Physics and Technology in Ukraine and, most recently, professors teaching circuits and electronics from 13 HBCU ECE programs and the faculty, staff and students of the Lighting Enabled Systems and Applications (LESA) ERC, where he was Education Director from 2009-2018. He learned problem solving from his father (who ran a gray iron foundry), his mother (a nurse) and grandparents (dairy farmers). He was RPI ECSE Department Head from 2001 to 2008, served on the board of the ECE Department Heads Association (ECEDHA) from 2003 to 2008 and directed the Mobile Studio Project.

Selected Publications

Education:

K. Connor, J, Kelly, C. Scott, M. Chouikha, D. Newman, K. Gullie, M. Ndoye, I. Dabipi, C. Graves, L. Zhang, A. Osareh, S. Albin, D. Gettis, P. Andrei, F. Lacy, H. Majlesein, A. Eldek, J. Attia, Y. Astatke, S. Yang, L. Jiang, B. Oni, X. Zein-Sabatto “Experiment Centric Pedagogy – Improving the HBCU Engineering Student Learning Experience,” ASEE Annual Conference, Salt Lake City, June 2018

K. Connor, P. Schoch, K. Gullie, D. Newman, S. Sawyer, J. Braunstein, “Experiment-Centric Pedagogy in Circuits and Electronics Courses,” ASEE Annual Conference, Salt Lake City, June 2018

K. Connor, J, Kelly, M. Chouikha, Y. Astatke, A. Eldek, J. Attia, D. Newman, K. Gullie, O. Nare, “Implementation of Common Content-Based Assessment for Experiment Centric Pedagogy in Three HBCU ECE Programs,” ASEE Annual Conference, Columbus, June 2017

K. Connor, D. Newman, K. Gullie, P. Schoch, “Flipped Classroom Experiences Built on Personal Instrumentation,” ASEE Annual Conference, New Orleans, June 2016

K. Connor, Y Astatke, C. Kim, M. Chouikha, D. Newman, K. Gullie, A. Eldek, S. Devgan, A. Osareh, J. Attia, S. Sabatto, D. Geddis, “Experimental Centric Pedagogy in Circuits and Electronics Courses in 13 Universities,” ASEE Annual Conference, New Orleans, June 2016

K. Connor, D. Newman, K. Gullie, Y. Astatke, M. Chouikha, C. Kim, O. Nare, P. Andrei, L. Hobson, “Experimental Centric Pedagogy in First-Year Engineering Courses,” ASEE Annual Conference, New Orleans, June 2016

D. Newman, J. Lamendola, M. Morris Deyoe, K. Connor, “Active Learning, Mentoring, and Mobile Technology: Meeting Needs across Levels in One Place” Promoting Active Learning Through the Integration of Mobile and Ubiquitous Technologies, Keengwe, J. Ed (2015)
 
D. Newman, M. Morris Deyoe, K. Connor, J. Lamendola, “Flipping STEM Learning: Impact on Students’ Process of Learning and Faculty Instructional Activities,” Promoting Active Learning Through the Flipped Classroom Model, Keengwe, S., Onchwari, G., Oigara, J. Ed (2014)

D. Newman, G. Clure, M. Morris Deyoe, K. Connor. “Using Technology in a Studio Approach to Learning: Results of a Five Year Study of an Innovative Mobile Teaching Tool.” Pedagogical Applications and Social Effects of Mobile Technology Integration. Ed. J. Keengwe (2013).

K. Connor, “Goodbye, Podium: an Engineering Course Puts Theory Into Practice,” Chronicle of Higher Ed, Special Report on Online Learning, 1 October 2012.

Heavy Ion Beam Probing:

S. C. Aceto,K. A. Connor, J. G. Schwelberger and J. J. Zielinski, "Use of a Heavy Ion Beam Probe to Measure the Plasma Potential on the Advanced Toroidal Facility", Rev. Sci. Instrum., vol 63, pp. 4568-4570 (1992).

J. G. Schwelberger, S. C. Aceto, K. A. Connor, J. J. Zielinski, L. A. Baylor, A. C. England, R. Isler, C. H. Ma, M. Murakami, T. Uchan and D. A. Rasmussen, "Electron Density Profile Measurement with a Heavy Ion Beam Probe", Rev. Sci. Instrum., vol 63, pp. 4571-4573 (1992).

V. J. Simcic, T. P. Crowley, P. M. Schoch, A. Y. Aydemir, X. Z. Yang, K. A. Connor, R. L. Hickok, A. J. Wootton, and S. C. McCool, "Internal Magnetic and Electrostatic Fluctuation Measurements of MHD Modes in the TEXT Tokamak", Physics of Fluids B, vol 5, 1576 (1993).

K. A. Connor and T. P. Crowley, "Guest Editorial on Special Issue on Heavy Ion Beam Probing", IEEE Trans. Plasma Science, vol 22, 285 (1994).

S. C. Aceto, K. A. Connor, J. G. Schwelberger and J. J. Zielinski, "Measurements of the Space Potential of Electron Cyclotron Heated Plasmas in the Advanced Toroidal Facility", IEEE Trans. Plasma Science, vol 22, 388 (1994).

J. R. Goyer, K. A. Connor, R. L. Hickok and L. Solensten, "Temperature and Density Measurements in a Non-Axisymmetric, Continuously Operating Fusion Experiment Using a Heavy Ion Beam Probe", IEEE Trans. Plasma Science, vol 22, 403 (1994).

J. G. Schwelberger and K. A. Connor, "Atomic Collision Processes Relevant for Heavy Ion Beam Probes", IEEE Trans. Plasma Science, vol 22, 418 (1994).

A. Fujisawa, A. Ouroua, J. W. Heard, T. P. Crowley, P. M. Schoch, K. A. Connor, R. L. Hickok, A. J. Wootton, "Ballooning Characteristics in Density Fluctuations Observed with the 2 MeV Heavy Ion Beam Probe on the TEXT-U Tokamak," Nuclear Fusion, vol 36, 375 (1996).

T. P. Crowley, H. Iguchi, A. Fujisawa, S. Lee,Y. Hamada, S. C. Aceto, and K. A. Connor, "Heavy Ion Beam Probe Sample Volume Effects in Helical Devices," Fusion Engineering and Design vol. 34-35, 653 (1997).

A. Ouroua, T.P. Crowley, K.A. Connor, D.R. Demers, A. Fujisawa, R.L. Hickok, P.E. McLaren,P.M. Schoch, "Measurements of Broadband Fluctuations and Plasma Potential with the 2 MeV Heavy Ion Beam Probe on the TEXT-U Tokamak," Fusion Engineering and Design, vol 34-35, 613 (1997).

K. Connor, U. Shah, J. Lei, D. Demers, P. Schoch, T. Crowley, C. Forest, J. Anderson, D. Craig, S. Prager, "First Measurement of Potential in the Core Region of the Madison Symmetric Torus Reversed Field Pinch," Proc. of the 11 th International Toki Conference on Plasma Physics and Controlled Nuclear Fusion (ITC-11), J. Plasma Fusion Res. SERIES, Vol. 4 (2001) 213-218.

D. R. Demers, P. M. Schoch, K. A. Connor, T. P. Crowley, "Radial electrostatic flux inferred from core measurements of potential and density fluctuations," Physics of Plasmas, vol 8, 1278 (2001).

D. R. Demers, J. Lei, U. Shah, P. M. Schoch, K. A. Connor, T. P. Crowley, J. G. Schatz, J. K. Anderson, J. S. Sarff, "Initial measurements of the plasma potential in the Core of the MST reversed field pinch with a heavy ion beam probe," Czech J. Phys, vol 51, 1065 (2001).

D. R. Demers, U. Shah, K. A. Connor, J. K. Anderson, and T. P. Crowley, "Core Electrostatic Fluctuations and Particle Transport in a Reversed-Field Pinch," J. Lei, P. M. Schoch, Physical Review Letters, Vol. 89, Num. 27, 275001 (2002).

P. M. Schoch, K. A. Connor, D. R. Demers, X. Zhang, "Zonal Flow Measurements with a Heavy Ion Beam Probe," Review of Scientific Instruments, vol 74, 1846 (2003).

X. Zhang, J. Lei, K. A. Connor, D. R. Demers, P. M. Schoch, U. Shah, "Analysis of heavy ion beam probe potential measurement errors in the Madison Symmetric Torus ," Review of Scientific Instruments, vol 75, 3502 (2004).

M. Sasao, K. A. Connor, K. Ida, H. Iguchi, A. A. Ivanov, M. Nishiura, D. M. Thomas, M. Wada, M. Yoshinuma, "Sources for Fusion Plasma Diagnostics (Invited)," IEEE Trans. on Plasma Science, vol 33, 1872 (2005).

Electromagnetics:

K. A. Connor, S. J. Salon, B. G. Ruth, L. F. Libelo, "2 Dimensional Finite Element Analysis of Open Microwave Devices", L. Nicholas, Journal de Physique III, vol 2, 2101 (1992).

K. A. Connor, S. J. Salon, B. G. Ruth and L. F. Libelo, "3 Dimensional Finite Element Analysis of High Power Microwave Devices", L. Nicolas, IEEE Trans. Magnetics, vol 29, 1642 (1993).

K. Choi, S. J. Salon, K. A.Connor, " Time Domain Finite Element Analysis of High Power Microwave Aperture Antennas," IEEE Transactions on Magnetics, 31, 1622 (1995).

K. Choi, S. J. Salon, K. A. Connor, H. K. Jung, S. Y. Hahn, "A Second-Order Accurate Method To A Time Domain Analysis Of Wave Propagation In An Irregular Mesh," IEEE Transactions On Magnetics, vol 32, 938 (1996).

J. Braunstein, K. Connor, S. Salon, et al. "Investigation of microwave heating with time varying material properties," IEEE Trans Magnetics, vol 35, 1813 (1999)