Wixson Professorship Award Lecture: Matt Zawodniak

This event is free and unticketed

Masks required for all patrons.
Unmasked performers will be tested for Covid19 immediately before the performance

The Plymouth State University Ed and Marilyn Wixson Endowed Professorship of Mathematics was created by longtime PSU mathematics faculty Ed and Marilyn Wixson to celebrate and recognize faculty in the Department of Mathematics who are exemplary faculty models of teaching, scholarship, and service or who show strong promise to become such excellent faculty.Dr. Z received his Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Georgia in 2016. His research was in the broad field of Algebraic Topology (playing with Play-Doh in n-dimensional space) and the specific area of Rational Homotopy Theory, which studies how similar different mathematical constructs are. While pursuing his Ph.D., he discovered his love for teaching. Dr. Z tried to bring this love of mathematics to pre-calculus courses by hosting math murder mysteries, using twitter in the classroom, and trying to teach outside whenever possible. He also increased his pedagogical knowledge by becoming a member of the UGA future faculty program and pursuing the UGA Certificate of Mathematics Education. From these experiences, Dr. Z tries to combine pedagogy, innovative techniques, and his love of math to every class he teaches.

One of Dr. Z’s favorite courses to teach is Mathematics for Elementary Teachers. Elementary mathematics is both interesting and integral to the future mathematical success of young students. Dr. Z has designed and taught courses for in-service elementary teachers as well. His overall goal as a teacher is to improve K-16 mathematics education.

When Dr. Z isn’t teaching you might find him mountain biking, bowling, or playing video games.