Dr. Stephen E. Rafter, 32, graduated May 15 from Georgia State University in Atlanta with a doctor of philosophy degree in astrophysics.  

 

Dr. Rafter’s dissertation was “The Optical and Radio Properties of a Low Redshift Sample of Broad-Lined Active Galactic Nuclei.” He was hooded by his advisor and chair, Dr. Daniel Michael Crenshaw. Dr. Rafter graduated in 2004 from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a B.S. in physics. 

 

Dr. Rafter is the son of local attorney Richard and Deborah Rafter of Clyo. Stephen has accepted a research fellowship position at The University of Haifa in Haifa, Israel. He left to begin his new position on May 30 and plans on being in Israel for one year.