Meet Our Faculty

Kevin Grove
Professor of Physics
Email: kgrove@cocc.edu

As a climber, skier, scientist, and engineer, Kevin seeks adventure in remote regions of Central Oregon and beyond. He has a passion for all things related to snow and loves sharing that passion with his Physics, Engineering, and snow science students at COCC. Kevin’s own firsthand experience with an avalanche, losing several friends to mountain accidents, and becoming a father all inspired him to want to learn more about snow science and the psychology of decision-making. He served on the board of the Central Oregon Avalanche Center for a decade, working hard to increase avalanche safety in Central Oregon, and is excited to be the co-chair of the International Snow Science Workshop.

Kevin holds a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering and a Master of Science in chemical engineering from Montana State University. Prior to joining COCC, he worked for Bend Research Inc. as a research chemical engineer.

Wendi Wampler 
Associate Professor of Physics 
Email: wwampler@cocc.edu 

After earning a chemical engineering degree from Purdue University in 2004, Wendi returned to her alma mater to pursue both bachelor’s and doctoral degrees in physics, completing her Ph.D. in 2013. Since joining COCC in 2014, she has taught both algebra- and calculus-based physics courses, as well as astronomy and engineering. She particularly values the small class sizes and opportunity to work with diverse nontraditional students. Some of Wendi’s research interests include epistemological framing — examining how students’ perceptions about knowledge affects their classroom performance — and exploring ways that teacher-scholars can enhance their pedagogical approaches while contributing to the scholarship of teaching and learning. Beyond academia, she is also an accomplished clarinetist. Wendi has been an active member in Oregon’s chapter of the American Association of Physics Teachers, often giving talks. 

Lexi Costantino
Assistant Professor of Physics
Email: lcostantino@cocc.edu

Other than rock climbing, skiing and playing video games, Lexi thinks that studying physics is probably one of the most fun activities that a human can engage in. She strives to share the fun with her students by taking a flipped-classroom approach to teaching, which prioritizes group problem-solving, interactive activities and experiential learning by experiencing physics in action. 

During her doctoral degree, Lexi did research in theoretical particle physics, specifically on the theory of extra-dimensional dark matter. Lexi stays in touch with this theoretical physics background by offering an independent study course for advanced second-year students with an interest in studying theoretical physics. Interested students should reach out via email for more info.

Lexi also earned an undergraduate degree in chemistry and is a first-generation college graduate —meaning nobody in her family had ever gone to college. Students who are science majors and are struggling with topics such as navigating academia (perhaps because they are a first-generation college student) or are indecisive about which branch of science they’d like to study are encouraged to reach out to Lexi. She is happy to listen and her office has been certified as a COCC Safe Zone.