Mathematics Recognition

Wittenberg Professor Recognized Nationally by the Mathematical Association of America

Demonstrating the quality of Wittenberg University faculty, Associate Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science Adam Parker received the George Pólya Award from the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) for his article “Who Solved the Bernoulli Differential Equation and How did They Do it?”

One of only two recipients, Parker received the prestigious award at the MAA Summer National MathFest meeting in Portland, Ore., Aug. 6-9. His article examines of the history of mathematics while exploring the teaching pedagogy of mathematics.

“I am deeply grateful to receive the Pólya Award,” Parker said. “This paper is part of an ongoing professional and pedagogical project of integrating primary sources into my teaching – a project that started at an Ohio MAA Summer Short Course presented by Danny Otero and David Pengelley in 2008. I am grateful to them for showing me how history and primary sources can enrich the classroom experience for my students and myself. I also thank my various classes and Wittenberg University for the opportunity and encouragement to try new things in my classes.”

The George Pólya Award, established in 1976, is named after the renowned teacher and writer. The $1,000 award is given for articles of expository excellence published in The College Mathematics Journal.

The Mathematical Association of America is the largest professional society for collegiate mathematics. Members include university, college, and high school teachers; graduate and undergraduate students; pure and applied mathematicians; computer scientists; statisticians; and many others in academia, government, business, and industry.

A nationally ranked university for the liberal arts and sciences affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Wittenberg University has repeatedly been ranked throughout the years by the Princeton Review for the quality of its teaching and faculty, including 11th in the nation for “Best Classroom Experience” and 15th in the category “Professors Get High Marks” in the 2011 edition of Princeton’s annual Best Colleges guide. Most recently, Wittenberg earned the No. 4 spot in the category of “Most Accessible Professors.”

Additionally, The Chronicle of Higher Education named Wittenberg one of the nation’s top producers of Fulbright Scholars among bachelor degree-granting institutions in 2010. The university has also been recognized nationally for excellence in service and athletics.

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About Wittenberg

Wittenberg's curriculum has centered on the liberal arts as an education that develops the individual's capacity to think, read, and communicate with precision, understanding, and imagination. We are dedicated to active, engaged learning in the core disciplines of the arts and sciences and in pre-professional education grounded in the liberal arts. Known for the quality of our faculty and their teaching, Wittenberg has more Ohio Professors of the Year than any four-year institution in the state. The university has also been recognized nationally for excellence in community service, sustainability, and intercollegiate athletics. Located among the beautiful rolling hills and hollows of Springfield, Ohio, Wittenberg offers more than 100 majors, minors and special programs, enviable student-faculty research opportunities, a unique student success center, service and study options close to home and abroad, a stellar athletics tradition, and successful career preparation.

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