Dr. Holly Attenborough, assistant professor of mathematics, was selected to receive the University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s 2018 Early Career Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence. The award recognizes a tenure-track faculty member who has made distinguished contributions to the mission of UW-Platteville as an outstanding teacher.
“I know that there are a lot of great early career faculty at UW-Platteville focused on and dedicated to teaching excellence, which makes receiving this award a very special honor,” said Attenborough.
Attenborough joined UW-Platteville in 2013 and teaches a variety of students as her courses range from general education math classes and the calculus sequence to upper-level math-major courses. She has developed many materials and activities in her classroom in order to cultivate an active and positive learning environment and encourage student engagement.
Attenborough’s students and peers recognize her to be devoted to high quality mathematics instruction. “I had the opportunity to observe Dr. Attenborough’s class ... I observed her connect with every student in the class to make sure they understood the content,” wrote Dr. Tim Deis professor of mathematics, in his nomination letter. “Just as importantly, the students felt comfortable in asking questions and participating. She did an outstanding job of teaching. A former student shared with me that, ‘Dr. Attenborough was a very dedicated teacher. She did not want her students to fail. She had multiple office hours that I utilized every single week. She also knew how to teach certain material different ways. If one student did not understand what was being taught, then she taught it a different way so every student could benefit from the lesson.’ The University of Wisconsin-Platteville is fortunate to have an instructor of the caliber and passion for teaching as Dr. Attenborough.”
Attenborough has also influenced students at UW-Platteville outside of the classroom. Multiple times, she has led a contingent of students to the Nebraska Conference for Undergraduate Women in Mathematics in Lincoln, Nebraska. She has also served as the Math Club advisor since 2014. One member of the club shared, “[Dr. Attenborough] is always upbeat, very knowledgeable, organized, and she brings wonderful ideas to the table. She made Math Club exciting.”
Attenborough’s commitment to student learning inspired her to pursue scholarship of teaching and learning research. In 2017, she was selected as a participant for UW System’s Wisconsin Teaching Fellows and Scholars Program. This professional development program offers UW faculty and teaching academic staff a unique opportunity to collaborate with other exceptional teachers across UW System. Attenborough also serves as the co-director of Section NExT-WI, the Wisconsin section of the national New Experiences in Teaching program, Project NExT, sponsored by the Mathematical Association of America. Through this organization, she helps support new and recent Ph.D.s in their roles as mathematics faculty members. In particular, the project fosters and enhances high-quality teaching and learning of undergraduate mathematics.
Attenborough received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Miami University in Ohio, and her Ph.D. in mathematics from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. She will be recognized for the award at the UW-Platteville faculty and staff convocation on Tuesday, Aug. 28.