Kate Pletcher

Biography

Fall 2022, I will be entering my senior year at the University of Denver (DU) where I am pursuing a double major in physics and mathematics, and a minor in computer science. I have been an SPS member since my freshman year at DU, where I’ve loved building a tight-knit physics community as well as participating in outreach with the local schools. I have happily held the position as social media manager of our SPS chapter for over a year and was recently elected as president. I absolutely love SPS and have made the most amazing memories over the years (including the longest game of Uno ever)!

For three years now I have worked with the Siemens Research Lab, researching stability of tilted optical vortices in laser beams. My next step is to attend graduate school and it is my goal to become a physics professor. I’m very passionate about teaching and accessibility in the sciences, therefore, I hope to someday foster classroom environments where all feel welcome and empowered to learn physics.

Outside of physics, I am the president of the club curling team at DU, and a member of the Tactile Art Community, which we lovingly refer to as “finger painting club.” In my free time, I’ve been learning to crochet and enjoy exploring the beauty of Colorado!