Distinguished Professor Andy Albrecht has been named director of the Center for Quantum Mathematics and Physics, or QMAP for short. It assembles experts from varied fields to figure out problems in quantum physics and mathematics.

UC Davis established the center in 2015 with five new hires under the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe Hiring Investment Program. In addition to this core group, QMAP also has several additional members from the physics and math faculty.

QMAP runs a visitor program, seminar and conference series, and public lectures with experts from around the world. QMAP also is moving forward with a physical location on campus conducive to the highly collaborative nature of the center’s work.

Albrecht has a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Pennsylvania and is known for his groundbreaking work on cosmic inflation, the flow of time and dark energy. He moved to UC Davis from London’s Imperial College in 1998 to build the physics department’s cosmology program. He served as chair of the department chair from 2011 to 2016.

He is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Physical Society, the Institute of Physics and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Undergraduate Education recently announced the appointment of Danica Tisdale Fisher as the director of Summer Sessions, with a starting date of June 5. She serves now as the assistant director and dean of admissions for Summer Session at Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass.

She previously worked in academic and student affairs at Claremont McKenna College and Tufts University. 

“Danica brings to us a wealth of experience building new programs and fostering the growth of existing ones,” said Matt Traxler, assistant vice provost, Undergraduate Education, who made the announcement.

Fisher holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from Spelman College and Temple University, respectively, and a Ph.D. in women’s, gender, and sexuality studies from Emory University.

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