By Lakin Stevens
Dr. Vicky Klima, professor of mathematical sciences as well as academic mentor for STEM majors and faculty member in the Honors College, has been awarded the Mathematical Association of America’s Southeastern Section 2022 Distinguished Teaching Award. The Southeastern Section covers all higher education in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, North and South Carolina. She received this recognition at the 2022 Mathematical Association of America Southeastern Section Meeting held at Berry College March 10-12, 2022. Dr. Klima is the first Appalachian State University faculty member to receive the award.
The Mathematical Association of America established the national award in 1991 to honor university faculty whose teaching has been extraordinarily successful and whose effectiveness in teaching undergraduate mathematics is shown to have influence beyond their own classrooms. Dr. Klima, who joined the Department of Mathematical Sciences at Appalachian in 2003, has been a part of the Honors College at Appalachian since 2004. She served as the Honors Director for the Department of Mathematical Sciences until 2017 and has been a part of the Honors College academic mentoring team since 2019.
Dr. Klima teaching her son, Jack, during the pandemic. Photo submitted.
Dr. Klima’s role in the Honors College has been transformational in growing and strengthening the Honors College. As a professor in the Honors College, Dr. Klima has taught Honors seminars that bring her unique and innovative insights to Honors students. HON 1515: Visualizing a Just Society as well as HON 2515: Data for Social Justice call students to think about justice, and to study the role that numerical data can play in informing discussions and understanding of such issues.
Dean of the Honors College Jeff Vahlbusch highlighted Dr. Klima’s impact on Honors students in his letter of support for the award,
“Dr. Klima’s student teaching evaluations emphasize the clarity and cogency of her teaching, the creativity and broad utility of her courses and assignments, and the time and attention she is always willing to give to individual students, and her investment in their success.”
Throughout Dr. Klima’s time with the Honors College, she has exemplified the Honors spirit and mission to create an enhanced intellectual experience for students that fosters independent and creative thinking. Her contributions as a professor, director, and mentor have reflected her excellence. As Vahlbusch further wrote, “Dr. Vicky Klima has earned my deep admiration and appreciation as a colleague who is, in every respect, a truly superb teacher and colleague who strives continuously to assess and improve her own performance and effectiveness.”
