Congratulations to Professor Jason Metcalfe, recipient of the inaugural Sue E. Goodman Award!

‘Jason Metcalfe graduated from Johns Hopkins University in 2003 writing a thesis under Chris Sogge and spent time at Georgia Tech and Berkeley before coming to UNC in 2007, where is now a full Professor.  He does research in Partial Differential Equations, especially in areas related to nonlinear wave equations and General Relativity.  During his time here, Jason has taught many undergraduate courses, and worked on several successful research projects with undergraduates.  For his teaching, he has received great praise for his ability to take difficult concepts and through a combination of thoughtfulness, care and examples, explain them in ways that seem to connect with a remarkable number of students.  He has received multiple comments such as, “That is by far the most accessible a professor has ever been for me at UNC and this time was incredibly helpful. If I could take every math class at UNC with Jason, I would.” Also, “Professor Metcalfe is amazing. He goes above and beyond for his students. His course is difficult but fair and if you put the work in it definitely shows. He works so hard and it is greatly appreciated. The plethora of material he endows us with really helps too!!” If it were just one student saying such things, it would be an honor to have made such an impact.  However, that sentiments such as this are echoed by numerous students over numerous classes is truly remarkable.  It is an honor to give the inaugural Sue E. Goodman Award to someone who so embodies her devotion and passion for the craft of teaching.’ – Professor Jeremy Marzuola, UNC Chapel Hill Commencement Address, Mathematics Department, May 14, 2017. 

Congratulations Professor Metcalfe on this well deserved honor!

Date: September 26, 2017

Professor Richard Rimanyi named as Bowman & Gordon Gray Distinguished Term Professor

Congratulations Professor Richard Rimanyi for being named as the Bowman & Gordon Gray Distinguished Term Professor!

The Bowman and Gordon Gray Professorship is one of the University’s most esteemed awards for excellence in undergraduate teaching. These professorships help Carolina support its best teachers and scholars, providing a salary supplement, an annual fund for research, and a one-semester research and study assignment during the five-year term of the award. The late Gordon Gray, who graduated from UNC in 1930, and the estate of Bowman Gray Jr., a 1929 graduate, established the professorships in 1980 in the College of Arts and Sciences. Bernard Gray, UNC Class of 1972 and Gordon’s son, significantly enhanced the 5-year professorships with a gift in 1999 to expand the salary and research supplement, include a semester-long sabbatical.

Rimanyi is the third member of the Department to hold this position, joining Peter Mucha, who received the award in 2012, and Professor Sue Goodman, who held the award from 1991 to 1994.

Congratulations to Professor Rimanyi on this well-deserved recognition!

Date: September 6, 2017