Distinguished Professor Emeritus Stephen D. Durham obtained his PhD at University of California at Davis and came to USC in 1972 from the University of Colorado. He retired from USC in 1995.  He was instrumental in helping form the department in 1985 and served before and after 1985 as the Undergraduate Director, as well as an excellent researcher.  He was part of the Army Research Office and National Science Foundation research grants with Joe Padgett and James Lynch.