Mathmatics professors surprised after winning award
Kiya Felix Famoye said he couldn’t believe he’s the recipient of this year’s College of Science and Technology Outstanding Teaching Award.
“I wasn’t expecting it because there are so many excellent teachers in the program,” said Famoye, a mathematics professor. “I must be doing something right.”
An internationally known researcher in the field of statistics, Famoye teaches both undergraduate and graduate statistic courses.
Famoye also mentors students in independent studies and master’s and doctorate degree theses.
“I want my students to be able to relate to the material and explain to them why they need to know the material,” he said. “This award says to me that it is a community decision and that students are happy with how I teach.”
Thomas Miles, associate professor and chair of the mathematics department, said Famoye should have gotten the award a long time ago.
“He has been an outstanding teacher for a number of years and is an excellent researcher outside of the classroom,” he said. “He has a very pleasant manner in the classroom smiling all the time and that goes a long way to be effective communicating with students.”
In 1986, Famoye, a native of Nigeria, earned a doctorate degree in statistics from the University of Calgary in Canada and has been working for CMU since August 1988.
Also winning the award was Terry Lerch, assistant engineering and technology professor.
Lerch’s main interests are industrial and biological ultrasonics, and he has supervised undergraduate and master’s research projects.
“I was very honored, we have such an excellent staff here and I’m honored to be recognized among them,” he said. “I have a lot of pride to be distinguished in this way.”
He earned a doctorate in engineering mechanics in 1996 from Iowa State University and teaches multiple courses on engineering at CMU.
“(The) thing I love most about teaching is being able to connect with students for 16 weeks of the year and watching them grow academically and watching them exceed,” he said.
