Indiana Section of the Mathematical Association of America
Award for Distinguished College or University Teaching of Mathematics

Citation to

Kenneth Constantine

The Indiana Section Award for Distinguished College or University Teaching of Mathematics recognizes the accomplishments and contributions of Section members who have been identified as extraordinary teachers in the mathematical sciences and whose teaching effectiveness has been shown to have had influence beyond their own institutions.

This year's recipient has a 33-year record of distinguished teaching and scholarship in mathematics and statistics. Though his humility makes researching this citation difficult, credible reports of his deep and diverse contributions have surfaced.

When several Taylor University students discovered that the university did not regularly offer a course in econometrics, they knocked on our recipient's door. The course was soon developed and taught, followed by an independent study course in Spatial Econometrics. Although our recipient's qualifications for the latter topic appear to be "exposure to a seminar talk back in graduate school/' this year one of his students in the course won an award from the International Atlantic Economic Society for his undergraduate research paper in econometrics. The student said "Dr. X was able to point me in the right direction in terms of statistical techniques for my paper that helped me stand out from the rest of the competition at the conference." Our recipient's peers report that he has consistently high standards for students, emphasizing collaborative learning and projects that bring out students' full potential. His colleagues note his frequent intervention to help students who are struggling. He has also been faculty advisor to the extremely successful Taylor Math Club. Though a master teacher, our recipient still remains a student at heart. While a faculty member at Eastern Nazarene College, for example, he audited 48 credits worth of coursework. He is well-read on current pedagogical research and calculus reform. His own willingness to be a lifelong learner has been a powerful role model to many students.

Outside of the mathematics department at Taylor, our recipient provides statistical consulting for the university's master's programs in Environmental Science and Higher Education and supports the Bedi Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence. He has been an integral part of the AP Statistics program and the exam's grading since its inception, often grading the hardest problems and advising on difficulties associated with them. He has also given multiple presentations at meetings of the Association of Christians of Mathematical Sciences and the Joint Mathematics Meetings.

This year's Award for Distinguished College or University Teaching of Mathematics goes to Ken Constantine of Taylor University.

Mel Royer, Chair, Nominating Committee for Distinguished Teaching Award
John Rickert, Section Chair,
Indiana Section of the MAA