Mercer Times

Matthew Mizuhara, an associate professor of mathematics at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), has been awarded the 2024 Distinguished College Teaching Award by the New Jersey section of the Mathematical Association of America. The award was presented at the organization's spring meeting last month.

Mizuhara's colleagues and students have recognized him as a thoughtful and effective educator who fosters a challenging, engaging, and inclusive classroom environment. His nomination for the award came from Thomas Hagedorn, another professor of mathematics at TCNJ.

“It is a great honor to have been selected for this award,” Mizuhara expressed. “I am extremely fortunate to work at TCNJ where student-centered pedagogy and the teacher-scholar model are truly valued and practiced.”

Beyond his teaching duties, Mizuhara mentors undergraduate research projects that have led to presentations, peer-reviewed publications, and student acceptance into PhD programs in mathematics. He also contributes to the broader mathematics community as the MAA-NJ Section NExT co-director and shares his resources through presentations and workshops throughout New Jersey.

Sunita Kramer, dean of the School of Science at TCNJ, commented on Mizuhara's achievement: “I’m thrilled to congratulate Dr. Mizuhara on receiving this award. His dedication to his students and his profession perfectly represents the inclusive and personalized teaching experience our faculty provides to our students here at TCNJ. I look forward to his continued success as both a teacher and a scholar of mathematics.”

For more about Mizuhara’s mathematical methods involving unique concepts like fireflies in Thailand and wobbly tables in Ewing, readers can refer to the 2020 issue of TCNJ Magazine.