Our People
Espen Fredrick
Espen Fredrick is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Physics. A 2021 Gustavus alumnus, Dr. Fredrick earned his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2025 before returning to the college, bringing with him a strong commitment to undergraduate education and student-centered research.
In the classroom, Dr. Fredrick emphasizes preparing students for future careers in science and related fields through a teaching philosophy centering on helping students develop the habits needed for independent problem solving. His favorite courses to teach include electromagnetic theory and quantum mechanics, where he enjoys helping students contextualize new mathematical formalisms to build their own physical intuition.
Dr. Fredrick’s research focuses on space plasma physics, particularly the interaction between the solar wind and Earth’s magnetic field. His work aims to improve predictions of how and when solar wind disturbances impact near-Earth space, contributing to a broader understanding of space weather and its effects on technological systems. At Gustavus, he is interested in involving undergraduates in research that emphasizes the accessibility of computational physics and empowers students to conduct meaningful research beyond traditional settings.
Beyond teaching and research, Dr. Fredrick currently assists students who operate the Olin Observatory, helping them gain hands-on experience with astronomical instrumentation. He values close collaboration with students and sees mentoring as one of the most rewarding aspects of his role. He is excited to help students grow as scientists, problem solvers, and future leaders.
Our People
Rebecca Fremo
Rebecca Taylor Fremo (Professor of English) earned her Ph.D. in Rhetoric and Composition at Ohio State University after completing her BA and MA in English at Virginia Tech. In the nearly three decades she’s spent at Gustavus, she’s served as English department chair, English co-chair, Director of Writing Across the Curriculum, and Director of the Writing Center. But Fremo’s real passion is teaching writing, and she’s been awarded the Edgar M. Carlson Award and the Swenson and Bunn Award for this work. Fremo likes nothing better than rolling up her sleeves and sitting side by side with student writers as they work through the challenges of sharing their stories. Fremo has published a variety of scholarly essays about teaching writing, but she’s most excited about her work as a creative writer. She recently completed a memoir titled Controlled Burn, which applies her observations as a gardener to her experiences raising three neurodivergent sons. Her poems and essays appear in journals including Mud Season Review, Mankato Magazine, Full Grown People, Paper Darts, and Water~Stone Review. She is also the author of one collection of poetry, Moving This Body, and a chapbook of poems titled Chasing Northern Lights. When she’s not at work, she’s probably in her garden or daydreaming about her next visit to the North Shore. She’s originally from Richmond, Virginia and still dreads the Minnesota winters–but the summers are worth it!
