NEWS
Associate dean named vice president of national mathematics association
Dr. Jenna P. Carpenter, associate dean for the College of Engineering and Science at Louisiana Tech University, has been elected to a term as First Vice President of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA), beginning in February 2014.
The MAA is the nation’s largest professional society focusing on undergraduate mathematics at the collegiate level. They offer a variety of programs, publications, and resources ranging from education to research and professional development, public policy and public appreciation of mathematics. MAA members include university faculty, high school teachers, college students, mathematicians, computer scientists and statisticians, as well as representatives from government, business, and industry.
Dr. Jenna Carpenter
Carpenter says the organization is positioned to meet the challenges that face higher education, particularly in the way content is delivered to students and the changing demographic of college-age students.
“The greatest challenges for the MAA, as it embarks on its second century of service, include leading the community as it seeks to adapt to the financial, political, and technology-driven challenges to higher education and reaching out to a new generation to help them see the value in joining and contributing to their professional organization,” said Carpenter.
“However, with a forward-looking strategic plan, strong executive leadership, and an eye toward sound fiscal management, the MAA is positioned to meet these challenges.”
Dr. Stan Napper, dean of Louisiana Tech’s College of Engineering and Science, believes this latest honor complements her work at the university. “Dr. Carpenter is a national leader in interdisciplinary education for engineers and scientists,” said Napper. “This new role with the MAA enables her to serve both the engineering education and the mathematics education professionals.
“Her national service is complementary to her service to students at Louisiana Tech University, and helps assure that Louisiana Tech provides the highest quality of education in the country.”
Carpenter previously served as 2006 chair of the Louisiana-Mississippi Section of the MAA and received the 2003 Award for Outstanding College or University Teaching from the Section. She directed the Section New Experiences in Teaching (NExT) Fellows Program for the Louisiana-Mississippi Section for five years. Carpenter also served on the Board of Directors of the American Society for Engineering Education and on the Board of the Women in Engineering Pro-Active Network.
In addition to her position as the College of Engineering and Science’s associate dean, Carpenter holds the Wayne and Juanita Spink Endowed Professorship in Mathematics. Written by Catherine Fraser – cfraser@latech.edu