University of Wisconsin-Platteville Professor of Mathematics Dr. Chris Frayer will receive the 2020 Distinguished Teaching Award from the Wisconsin Section of the Mathematical Association of America.
The Wisconsin Section Distinguished Teaching Award was established in 1991 to emphasize the high importance that colleges and universities in Wisconsin place on teaching mathematics. Winning nominees must display extraordinary success in teaching mathematics. At most, one award is given per year. Frayer is the 24th recipient in the 29-year history of the award, and the third from UW-Platteville.
Frayer has been a member of the Mathematics Department since 2008. In addition to his teaching duties, he has been an active mentor for undergraduate research projects, which have led to presentations or publications. He has created hands-on activities for high-school students to explore higher-level mathematics, such as using Tinker Toys to study knot theory. He has been a leader in establishing New Instructor Learning Communities at UW-Platteville, first for the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science, and then for the university as a whole.
According to Dr. Barb Barnet, the chair of UW-Platteville’s Mathematics Department, “Dr. Frayer is an excellent faculty member, who is an exceptional and dedicated teacher.”
Dr. Timothy Deis, UW-Platteville professor of mathematics, said of Frayer, “Students understand that they will be challenged in Dr. Frayer’s courses, but they also know that he will support and assist them through their assigned work.”
One anonymous student sums up the opinions of many by simply stating, “You can tell he loves to teach.”
“It is with great pleasure that I congratulate Dr. Chris Frayer on his selection as the MAA – Wisconsin Section’s Distinguished Teaching Award winner for 2020,” said Dr. Molly Gribb, dean of the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science. “UW-Platteville is very fortunate to have faculty like Dr. Frayer so committed to teaching excellence.”
Frayer will be honored at the Wisconsin Section’s Annual Meeting at UW-Stout on April 24. Upon receipt of additional supporting material, Frayer will become the Wisconsin Section nominee for the MAA's Deborah and Franklin Tepper Haimo Award for Distinguished College or University Teaching of Mathematics.