2013 Distinguished Professor

Mark Spraker is a Professor of Physics at the University of North Georgia. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Middle Tennessee State University (1988) with a double major in
Mathematics and Physics. He earned his Masters of Science in Physics (1990) from Indiana University and his PhD in Nuclear Physics (1995) from Indiana University.

Dr. Spraker joined NGCSU in 2001. He was Director of Presidential Initiatives tasked with preparing the documentation for NGCSU’s movement from the NAIA to the NCAA Division. He served as Director for the NGCSU Center of Undergraduate Research & Creative Activities (CURCA), and most recently as the faculty advisor for a research grant to the National Society of Physics Students to support the building of a fusor device at UNG. He is currently involved in a research program with the Radiative Capture Group at Duke University/TUNL, and a research group at UNG studying physics education and another research group related to the UNG X-ray source.

He is very active in his community and his church, serving on the Lumpkin County Board of Directors and Lumpkin County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. He is a member of the North Georgia Men’s Quartet, NGCSU Singers, the Etowah CASA, Inc. Board of Directors, a Cub Scout leader and a youth soccer coach. In nominating Dr. Spraker one of his students wrote, “Dr. Spraker is an excellent professor whose enthusiasm for his students and passion to help others reflects in his teaching style. He has a natural energy and sense of humor that makes paying attention in class easy.”

Previous Distinguished Professor Award Recipients