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In January 2003 the MAA established the Henry L. Alder Award for Distinguished Teaching by a Beginning College or University Mathematics Faculty Member to honor beginning college or university faculty whose teaching has been extra ordinarily successful and whose effectiveness in teaching undergraduate mathematics is shown to have influence beyond their own classrooms. Each year at most three college or university teachers are to be honored with this national award and are to receive $1,000 and a certificate of recognition from the MAA. Award recipients will be expected to make a presentation at MAA MathFest. Nominations for the award may be made by an individual or by an MAA section. Nominations for the Alder award are due to the secretary of the MAA (secretary@maa.org) by October 1 of each year.

Guidelines and nomination forms for the Alder Awards.

Alder Award Guidelines

Approved by the Alder Award Committee, the Council on Prizes and Awards, the Executive Committee, and the Board of Governors.

In January 2003 the MAA established the Henry L. Alder Award for Distinguished Teaching by a Beginning College or University Mathematics Faculty Member to honor beginning college or university faculty whose teaching has been extraordinarily successful and whose effectiveness in teaching undergraduate mathematics is shown to have influence beyond their own classrooms. Each year at most three college or university teachers are to be honored with this national award and are to receive $1,000 and a certificate of recognition from the MAA. Award recipients will be expected to make a presentation at one of the national meetings of the MAA. Nominations for the award may be made by any member of the MAA or by any section of the MAA.

Amended January 3, 2012

Nominees must:

  • Hold the Ph.D. degree
  • Be college or university teachers who have held a full-time faculty appointment in a department of mathematical sciences in the United States or Canada for at least two, but not more than seven, years since receiving the Ph.D. A nominee who has just started the eighth year of teaching at the time of the application is still eligible for the award. If a nominee has held the PhD for more than 7 years then the nominator must indicate on the nomination form the times that the nominee was not teaching. Common exceptions to the 7-year limit are maternity, paternity, family, or medical leaves. Sabbaticals and postdoctoral fellowships are exceptions only if they involved no teaching and the application does not include accomplishments made during these times.
  • Hold membership in the Mathematical Association of America.

Nominees for the award may be made by any individual or by any section of the MAA. Nominees should:

  • Be recognized as extraordinarily successful in their teaching
  • Have effectiveness in teaching undergraduate mathematics that can be documented
  • Have had influence in their teaching beyond their own classrooms

Cynthia J. Wyels
Email: secretary@maa.org

Paper Submission should be addressed to:

Cynthia J. Wyels
MAA Secretary
MAA
11 Dupont Circle NW, Ste 200
Washington, DC 20036

Teaching is intended to include classroom instruction as well as activities outside the classroom, such as working with student groups, preparing students for mathematical competitions, directing undergraduate students in research in mathematics, directing students in the preparation of honors theses, preparing teaching materials used by others, etc.

Nominations must be submitted according to the NOMINATION FORM. Instructions for that form should be followed precisely to assure uniformity in the selection process.

The NOMINATION FORM and supporting documentation that provides evidence documenting extraordinary success in teaching should be submitted to the Secretary of the MAA by October 1 of the academic year in which the nomination is to be considered. Directions for the nomination packet should be followed with precision to assure uniformity in the selection process.

Past Recipients

2023

R. Abraham Edwards, Lyman Briggs College, Michigan State University

Alison Lynch, California State University, Monterey Bay

Andrea Arauza Rivera, California State University, East Bay

2022

Vinodh Kumar Chellamuthu, Utah Tech University

Lauren Keough, Grand Valley State University

Brittany Stephenson, Lewis University

2021

Andrew Penland, Western Carolina University

Alexander Diaz-Lopez, Villanova University

Kim Seashore, San Francisco State University

2020

Selenne Bañuelos, California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI)

Kenneth Monks, Front Range Community College- Boulder County Campus (BCC)

Brandy Wiegers, Central Washington University

2019

PJ Couch, Lamar University

Pamela Harris, Williams College

Alicia Prieto Langarica, Youngstown State University

2018

Chad Awtrey, Elon University

David Clark, Grand Valley State University

Mohamed Omar, Harvey Mudd College

2017

Steven Klee, Seattle University

Mary Beisiegel, Oregon State University

2016

Dandrielle Lewis, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Jana Gevertz, College of New Jersey

Benjamin GalluzzoShippensburg University

2015

Allison Henrich, Seattle University

Patrick Rault, State University of New York at Geneseo

Talithia Williams, Harvey Mudd College

2014

Dominic Klyve, Central Washington University

Lara Pudwell, Valparaiso University

2013

Kumer Das, Lamar University

Christopher Storm, Adelphi University

Rachel Levy, Harvey Mudd College

2012

Kathryn Leonard, California State University Channel Islands

Susan Martonosi, Harvey Mudd College

Michael Posner, Villanova University

2011

Alissa S. Crans, Loyola Marymount University

Sarah Eichhorn, University of California, Irvine (UCI)

Sam Vandervelde, St. Lawrence University

2010

Nathan Carter, Bentley University

Kathleen Fowler, Clarkson University

2009

Scott Annin, California State University at Fullerton

Sommer Gentry, The United States Naval Academy

Jennifer McLoud-Mann, University of Texas at Tyler

2008

David Brown, Ithaca College

Jacqueline A. Jensen, Sam Houston State University

Katherine Socha, St. Mary’s College of Maryland

2007

Timothy Chartier, Davidson College

Satyan Devadoss, Williams College

Darren Narayan, Rochester Institute of Technology

2006

Lesley Ward, Harvey Mudd College

Garikai (Kai) Campbell, Swarthmore College

Christopher N. Swanson, Ashland University

2005

Matthew DeLong, Taylor University

Sarah Greenwald, Appalachian State University

Laura Taalman, James Madison University

2004

Francis Edward Su, Harvey Mudd College

Zvezdelina Stankova, Mills College