Indiana Section of the Mathematical Association of America
Award for Distinguished College or University Teaching of Mathematics
Citation to
Matt DeLong
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 extraordinarily successful 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 record of distinguished teaching and scholarship enriching the education of undergraduate students as well as strengthening the profession of collegiate teaching. He is, above all, a passionate and reflective teacher who challenges his students, from the math-anxious to the most able, to higher levels of accomplishment. His personal qualities of integrity, creativity, and patience contribute to his ability to connect with students on an individual level, motivating them to do their best work.
Implementing innovative and progressive teaching practices, he brings considerable skill and knowledge to the classroom. His students are actively involved throughout the class period, and he helps students reach his high level of expectations. Student evaluations repeatedly note that he communicates clearly, makes learning stimulating, and is always well-prepared.
His influence goes beyond his classroom. In 2001, he co-authored a book in the MAA Notes Series, Learning to Teach and Teaching to Learn: Resources for Professional Development, which one reviewer hailed as a high-quality, comprehensive resource which belonged in every instructor’s hands. He has been a Project NExT fellow and consultant both at the national and section level. At his local institution, he initiated a faculty educational issues seminar for teaching in mathematics and science which runs to this day. He was named the first Fellow at his school’s Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence in which he assists faculty development in the area of teaching.
He has been a driving force in mathematical undergraduate research at his institution, winning a CURM grant for his work with undergraduates in knot theory. He has reinvigorated his department’s Putnam and contest teams. Prior to his leadership, his school had never had a top 3 finish in this section’s Indiana Collegiate Mathematics Challenge. In six of the past nine years, the team has finished in the top three including last year’s first place finish.
In 2005, he was the recipient of the MAA’s Henry L. Alder Award for Distinguished Teaching by a Beginning College or University Faculty Member. This past year he was named the inaugural winner of the Teaching Excellence Award in the School of Natural and Applied Sciences at his institution.
Currently, he is the President of the Association of Christians in the Mathematical Sciences, the choir director at his church, and coach of his son’s flag football and little league baseball team.
This year’s Indiana Section of the Mathematical Association of America Award for Distinguished College or University Teaching of Mathematics goes to Matt DeLong, of Taylor University.
Ken Luther, Chair
Indiana Section of the Mathematical Association of America
April 9, 2010