Tim McKay

Timothy McKay is an accomplished physicist and educational innovator serving as Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Physics, Astronomy, and Education at the University of Michigan. His career spans significant contributions to both astrophysics and educational reform. As a data scientist, McKay has applied his expertise from analyzing cosmic structures to revolutionizing higher education through learning analytics. He spearheaded several transformative educational initiatives, including the E2Coach system that provides personalized support to thousands of students, and the REBUILD project focused on evidence-based teaching methods in STEM courses. In 2015, he founded the Digital Innovation Greenhouse with a $1.4 million allocation from the University of Michigan, creating an educational technology accelerator to scale innovative teaching solutions. His recent work as head of the Sloan Equity and Inclusion in STEM Introductory Courses (SEISMIC) project has brought together 180 people from 10 public research universities to address inequities in STEM education. McKay's research impact is evident through his extensive publication record, with his papers garnering over 30,000 citations. His commitment to educational equity and data-driven improvement in higher education earned him recognition as a Fellow of the American Physical Society in 2023 for his efforts to make STEM learning environments more equitable and inclusive.