SUNY Potsdam Professor Named to Distinguished Faculty Ranks

POTSDAM, NY (11/10/2016)(readMedia)-- The State University of New York Board of Trustees recently approved the appointment of a SUNY Potsdam professor to the Distinguished Faculty Ranks.

Dr. Laura Person, a faculty member in the College's Department of Mathematics, was named a SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor. All distinguished faculty in active service within SUNY are also members of the SUNY Distinguished Academy.

"Laura Person exemplifies excellence in teaching, scholarship and service to students. On behalf of the entire SUNY Potsdam community, I applaud her for her extraordinary achievements, upon this well-deserved recognition," said SUNY Potsdam President Kristin G. Esterberg.

The Distinguished Teaching Professorship recognizes and honors mastery of teaching. For this prestigious tribute to be conferred, candidates must have demonstrated consistently superior mastery of teaching, outstanding service to students, and commitment to their ongoing intellectual growth, scholarship and professional growth, and adherence to rigorous academic standards and requirements. Further, a faculty member must have attained and held the rank of full professor for five years, have completed at least three years of full-time teaching on the nominating campus, 10 years of full-time teaching in the System, and must have regularly carried a full-time teaching load as defined by the campus.

Dr. Person is a member of the Department of Mathematics at SUNY Potsdam. She received her Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of California at Santa Barbara before joining SUNY Potsdam's faculty in 1989. Having taught more than 20 different undergraduate and graduate courses, and served as a mentor for new faculty, she has proven herself a skilled and outstanding professor. Her numerous awards include the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching, the President's Award for Excellence in Teaching and the Favorite Professor of the Mathematics Department Award. Person has published two well-used textbooks, "Write Your Own Proofs in Set Theory and Discrete Mathematics" (with co-author Amy Babich) and "Topology Notes." Her exceptional teaching has been recognized by colleagues across the country, through multiple honors from the Mathematical Association of America. The Oklahoma-Arkansas Section invited her to be the Workshop Director for the session, "Building a Healthy Undergraduate Program." The Seaway Section invited her to present the distinguished Randolph Lecture and also presented her with the Clarence F. Stephens Distinguished Teaching Award, which is intended to honor someone with documented exceptional teaching effectiveness whose influence has extended beyond the institution.

Since the program's inception in 1963, SUNY has appointed 1,070 faculty to the distinguished ranks, as follows, including these most recent appointments: 375 Distinguished Professorships; 311 Distinguished Service Professorships; 379 Distinguished Teaching Professorships, and five Distinguished Librarian Professorships. More information about SUNY's faculty award program can be found at www.suny.edu/distinguished-academy.

The SUNY Potsdam Department of Mathematics offers both undergraduate and graduate programs. The program is based on the belief that students can succeed if they are provided with a supportive environment. For more information, visit www.potsdam.edu/academics/AAS/Math.

Founded in 1816, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America's first 50 colleges -- and the oldest institution within SUNY. As the College marks its bicentennial in 2016, SUNY Potsdam is celebrating a 200-year legacy of pioneering programs and educational excellence. The College currently enrolls approximately 4,100 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its challenging liberal arts and sciences core, distinction in teacher training and leadership in the arts. Empowered by a culture of creativity, the campus community recently completed Take the Lead: The Campaign for Potsdam, which raised $33.5 million for scholarships and programs.

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