Professors gain national recognition
This year Georgia College & State University gained two noteworthy professors, both of whom have recently received special recognition in their respective fields.
Dr. Martha Allen, Assistant Professor of Mathematics at GC&SU, was named a Project NExT fellow for 2001-2002. Project NExT (New Experiences in Teaching) is a program for new Ph.D. in math who are in their first or second year of full-time teaching. Initiated in 1994 by the Mathematical Association of America and funded by ExxonMobil, Project NExT selects 70 teachers from across the nation to participate in the program.
“For this year, of the 70 fellows, only three of them represent Georgia universities, and it is the first time that Georgia College & State University has been represented at Project NExT,” said Allen.
As part of the program, Allen will attend a total of three national conferences. The goal of these gatherings is to improve methods used to teach mathematics through panels, group discussions, and interaction with experienced teachers. Allen has already attended one of these conferences in Madison, Wisconsin and is planning to attend the next two, one in San Diego, California and the other in Burlington, Vermont.
After earning her B.S. in Mathematics Education from Shorter College, Allen received her M.A. and Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of South Carolina. She also taught at USC for six years before joining GC&SU’s faculty. Regarding her transfer to GC&SU, Allen feels that she has made the right decision.
“I’m very glad I made the decision,” Allen said. ” So far I am enjoying it very much, and it seems to be a great place to be.”
GC&SU’s Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Dr. Scott Brittain, also received a major award recently.
Brittain was one of only eight people nationwide to receive a $20,000 grant from The Camille & Henry Dreyfus Foundation, Inc. The foundation started the grant in 1993 to help first-time, tenure-track faculty begin research and teaching. This grant is only available to professors at institutions where a Ph.D. is not offered.
After being nominated by Dr. Rosemary DePaolo and Dr. Ken McGill, Brittain submitted letters of recommendation from other faculty and mentors, along with his research proposal, statement of teaching philosophy, and past publications.
These submissions were subject to review by distinguished faculty, and grants were awarded. With his unrestricted $20,000 budget, Brittain plans to get the new scanning electron microscope running and purchase camera equipment and high temperature ovens for the science department.
Brittain received his B.S. from the University Alabama and received his M.A. and Ph.D. from Harvard University. This is Brittain’s first year at GC&SU as a tenure-track professor, and he is pleased with his decision to join the science department.
“I love GC&SU, and with its new mission, this school is really taking off,” Brittian said. “Sciences are beginning to be really well supported, and we have some really good students in the science department.”
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Sep 21 2001. Filed under News.
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