UR Math Professor Honored for Extraordinary Teaching

University of Richmond professor of mathematics Della Dumbaugh has received the John M. Smith Award for Distinguished College or University Teaching from the Mathematical Association of America’s Maryland, D.C., Virginia section.

This award is given to someone who is extraordinarily successful in their teaching both at and beyond their institution and fosters curiosity and excitement about math.

Dumbaugh, who has served on the faculty at UR for 25 years, specializes in the history of mathematics and recently led the creation of AmericanMathematics.org, the first website dedicated to American mathematics.

She teaches across the mathematics curriculum and particularly enjoys creating courses that stretch across disciplines. This fall Dumbaugh is teaching Endeavor to Change: Calculus I, a first-year living-learning course that will use traditional calculus content as a platform to foster skills in civil discourse and relationship building.

The National Science Foundation sponsored a grant for a program Dumbaugh co-designed to advance women in mathematics.

“This acknowledgment is especially meaningful in that it honors my passion for generating excitement about and broadening representation in math,” said Dumbaugh.

“This prestigious award, which has been given since the early 1990s, is a first for our department,” said Kathy Hoke, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science chair. “Della is a stellar example of a teacher-scholar and devoted mentor.”

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