Zachary Kovach

Profile image of Zachary.Kovach
Title: 
Geology
 Phone: 623.935.8380
 Location: MAR 115
Monday - Thursday:
7:15 am-8:15 am
Office Hours Additional Information 
Additional Monday hours: 11:30 am - 12:30 pm. Office Hours in MON 216 or MAR 115. Please make an appointment or give me a heads up your are coming so I can best prepare for your visit and make it time efficient for you! For online classes, meetings via Zoom are available by appointment. NOTE...My office hours on the 2nd Monday of each month will be in the STEM Center of Excellence (MON 124)

Zachary.Kovach

Education 
M.S. in Geoscience
Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS
B.S. in Physics
Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
B.A.E. in Secondary Education Physics
Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
Biography 

I am a...

Father

Educator

Geologist

Hiker

Mountain climber

Drummer

DJ

Skateboarder

Martial artist (Tang Soo Do)

Hot sauce enthusiast

Chili purist

Salsa wizard

Beard aficionado

Disliker of puns

And students don't find me too annoying....so take Geology & Sustainability!

Media Appearances:

2017, The Stream on Al Jazeera (Interview with Neil deGrasse Tyson): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J94MYiEtSgg                                                                          

2017, 12 News Interview: https://www.12news.com/mobile/article/mb/news/local/valley/a-plus-teacher-mr-kovach-mastering-the-weird-with-physics/427345018

2017, FOX 10 Interview: http://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/arizona-news/valley-physics-teacher-honored-as-teacher-of-the-year

2017, West Valley View Article: https://www.westvalleyview.com/archives/la-joya-community-h-s-physics-teacher-honored/article_e8d8cc9c-cfd8-5308-9aa4-ba13bfd8b606.html

Academic Interests 
My academic interests include leading student-centered inquiry based geology & sustainability classes for both majors and non-majors alike in an active learning environment. My classes focus on skills that students will need to succeed in any college major and/or career. Those skills include: • Increase your ability to think critically • Sharpen your capacity to solve complex problems individually and/or with a group • Grow your capability to work and communicate in various and diverse groups • Intensify your aptitude in public speaking and presenting • Provide you the environment to cultivate your talent to think and reason scientifically • Grow your capability to work and communicate in an independent digital environment • Intensify your aptitude in computer literacy • Sharpen your reading, digital, media, and cultural literacy skills • Provide you the environment to cultivate your talent to think and reason as a global citizen
College Service 
2022 - Current, Faculty Senate Representative for Physical Sciences
2022, Learning College Reboot Taskforce Faculty Representative
2018, Faculty Resources Action Committee for Teaching and Learning (FRACTL) Physical Science Representative
District Service 
2021 - Current, Sustainability Instructional Council EMCC Representative
2019 - Current, Geology Instructional Council EMCC Representative
Affiliations 
National Association of Geoscience Teachers (NAGT)
Geological Society of America (GSA)
National Science Teachers Association (NSTA)
Arizona Science Teachers Association (ASTA)
American Modeling Teachers Association (AMTA)
Conference Presentations 

American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) 2021 Virtual Winter Meeting (Building a STEM-Wide Culture of Change)

January 12, 2021

Presenter (How Non-Science Majors Can Change the Science Culture of Post-Secondary Institutions)

Awards and Recognitions 

2023 World Tang Soo Do Association U.S. National Championship - Sparring - 1st - Gold Medal (National Champion)

2023 World Tang Soo Do Association U.S. National Championship - Forms - 3rd - Bronze Medal

US Congressional Recognition for Outstanding Teaching of Physics 2017

PhysTEC Regional Physics Teacher of the Year 2017

Arizona Science Teachers Association Novice Science Teacher of the Year 2014

Recent Professional Development Activities 

DIYnamics @ Earth Educators Rendezvous 2022 (start watching @ 5:45)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69_aR0n-KdQ

Classes Current Teaching
Name Title Term Days Times/Dates
GLG101IN View class details for Introduction to Geology I - Physical (GLG101IN)Introduction to Geology I - Physical SPR24 MW 10:00am - 11:15am
JAN 17 - MAY 10
GLG101IN View class details for Introduction to Geology I - Physical (GLG101IN)Introduction to Geology I - Physical SPR24 TR 11:30am - 12:45pm
JAN 16 - MAY 10
GLG101IN View class details for Introduction to Geology I - Physical (GLG101IN)Introduction to Geology I - Physical SPR24 TR 1:00pm - 2:15pm
JAN 16 - MAY 10
GLG101IN View class details for Introduction to Geology I - Physical (GLG101IN)Introduction to Geology I - Physical SPR24 JAN 16 - MAY 10
GLG101IN View class details for Introduction to Geology I - Physical (GLG101IN)Introduction to Geology I - Physical SPR24 JAN 16 - MAY 10
GLG101IN View class details for Introduction to Geology I - Physical (GLG101IN)Introduction to Geology I - Physical SPR24 MW 8:30am - 9:45am
JAN 17 - MAY 10
GLG102IN View class details for Introduction to Geology II - Historical (GLG102IN)Introduction to Geology II - Historical SPR24 TR 8:30am - 9:45am
JAN 16 - MAY 10
GLG102IN View class details for Introduction to Geology II - Historical (GLG102IN)Introduction to Geology II - Historical SPR24 TR 10:00am - 11:15am
JAN 16 - MAY 10
GLG102IN View class details for Introduction to Geology II - Historical (GLG102IN)Introduction to Geology II - Historical SUM24 JUL 1 - AUG 1
GLG102IN View class details for Introduction to Geology II - Historical (GLG102IN)Introduction to Geology II - Historical SUM24 JUL 1 - AUG 1
GLG101IN View class details for Introduction to Geology I - Physical (GLG101IN)Introduction to Geology I - Physical FAL24 TR 11:30am - 12:45pm
AUG 20 - DEC 13
GLG101IN View class details for Introduction to Geology I - Physical (GLG101IN)Introduction to Geology I - Physical FAL24 TR 1:00pm - 2:15pm
AUG 20 - DEC 13
GLG101IN View class details for Introduction to Geology I - Physical (GLG101IN)Introduction to Geology I - Physical FAL24 AUG 19 - DEC 13
GLG101IN View class details for Introduction to Geology I - Physical (GLG101IN)Introduction to Geology I - Physical FAL24 AUG 19 - DEC 13
GLG110IN View class details for Geological Disasters and the Environment (GLG110IN)Geological Disasters and the Environment FAL24 MW 8:30am - 9:45am
AUG 19 - DEC 13
GLG110IN View class details for Geological Disasters and the Environment (GLG110IN)Geological Disasters and the Environment FAL24 MW 10:00am - 11:15am
AUG 19 - DEC 13
SSH111 View class details for Sustainable Cities (SSH111)Sustainable Cities FAL24 TR 8:30am - 9:45am
AUG 20 - DEC 13
SSH111 View class details for Sustainable Cities (SSH111)Sustainable Cities FAL24 TR 10:00am - 11:15am
AUG 20 - DEC 13

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