Donor profile: Beverly Karplus Hartline

How a family tradition of supporting worthy causes has fostered generous giving

For Beverly Karplus Hartline, donating to worthy causes is a way of life — a tradition passed down through generations. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay area, Hartline witnessed the importance of giving back by the people she admired most.

“My family has always tried to make the world a better place,” says Hartline, who retired in 2021. Her career includes working as the deputy director of Argonne National Laboratory, as well as professor of geological engineering, vice-chancellor for research, and dean of the graduate school, all at the Montana Technological University. She also previously served as the assistant director of physical science and engineering for the Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Her grandfather, a preacher, championed Fisk University and other Historically Black Colleges and Universities during the 1920s and 1930s. “He was collecting tithes to help the church and to do good in the community,” she explains.

Her father’s family, who were both wealthy and highly educated, used their resources to start a kindergarten (nursery school experience) in Vienna that served not just their own daughter, but also children from struggling backgrounds.

“They believed that because they had advantages, they needed to help others,” Hartline says. “They also didn’t just want their kids only interacting with rich kids.”

Her parents, both with physics degrees and distinguished careers in science, instilled those same values of supporting worthwhile organizations into Hartline. They led by example, donating to their alma maters, Oberlin and Harvard, and taught Hartline the importance of service from a young age, starting with helping the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

“I remember during Halloween, collecting or declining candy and asking for quarters to support UNICEF,” recalls Hartline.

Decades later, that spirit of giving has evolved into a cornerstone of Hartline’s long-standing relationship with APS. In addition to being a committed donor and supporter of Society programs that promote access and inclusion, she serves as Speaker-Elect of the APS Council of Representatives.

Hartline regularly provides unrestricted support for APS access and inclusion programs, sustaining a strong physics community that positively impacts researchers, students, educators, and the broader public. She has also taken a leadership role in fundraising for endowing vital initiatives, including the Edward A. Bouchet Award, named for the first African American to earn a Ph.D. in physics. She has done the same for the Mildred Dresselhaus Prize in Nanoscience and Nanomaterials, which honors the legacy of the legendary “Queen of Carbon Science” whose groundbreaking research led to modern nanotechnology.

To secure the funding for these programs, Hartline has tirelessly engaged individual donors, foundations, national laboratories, and academic institutions across the country. Fundraising is not a chore, she says. Instead, it is an extension of her core philosophy – one her family imparted long ago.

“I really like raising money for APS programs because I want to make sure that researchers from all different backgrounds can be represented in the scientific field,” she says. “I’m not shy about asking people to give. I contribute first, then ask others. You don’t need a lot of money to support worthwhile programs.”

As a member of the Society for decades, in addition to being a standout donor, Hartline has also been an exceptional volunteer, serving on numerous committees, units, and task forces. She has traveled to deliver talks in Cameroon and Nigeria and has played a pivotal role in shaping the careers of others, having nominated many physicists for APS Fellowship.

Additionally, Hartline has been diligent in advocating for science policy on Capitol Hill and writing letters to the editor in support of APS’ policy priorities. She is also an APS Fellow and 5 Sigma Physicist honoree – just a couple of her countless accolades.

With a smile, she speaks proudly about APS’ Forum on Diversity and Inclusion (FDI), a unit she credits with setting a standard for being “extremely welcoming” at the Society’s general meetings.

Ramón S. Barthelemy, FDI chair, notes that Hartline’s impact has been profound as the unit works hard to establish a welcoming environment to ensure that all physicists are seen, valued, and heard within the field.

“Volunteers like Dr. Hartline are the heartbeat of our mission, supporting our events and sessions alike at national meetings where we can come together to heal (from systemic injustices) and grow,” he says.

Hartline says APS programs can only continue to thrive if people are willing to give.

“I’m always willing to send an email, then make a call to follow up while raising money,” she says. “My family taught me that we all should be helping people,” she says.