Shawna Mahan, Math faculty, received the Teaching Excellence Award at the Colorado Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges (ColoMATYC) conference in April. Mahan is considered a “go-to” faculty for those new to online math instruction. She is known for the rigor of her online classes, her robust discussion forums, and for pioneering the use of clickers in her classes for interactive student participation and quizzes.

According to math colleague Gayle Krzemien, who nominated Mahan for the award, “Unlike many math faculty who tend to gravitate to either the developmental-level or the college-level math curriculum and issues, Shawna has displayed an equal talent and passion for the entire spectrum of mathematics, whether it be entry-level developmental courses or Calculus III. This makes her an excellent leader within the department as well as in state and national organizations because of her ability to appreciate the varied challenges that students face in different types of courses.”

Mahan was selected by Carol Jonas-Morrison, dean of the Mathematics & Technology Division, to be Assistant Dean of Math for 2009-10. “She was a natural choice for this important position,” says Jonas-Morrison.

“It was astonishing how she was able to find articles and interpret them perfectly for all the students in the class to understand,” says one of her Calculus students. “Ms. Mahan is an outstanding teacher who is an asset not only to her students but her fellow teaching staff. She is respected by her fellow teachers as somewhat of a ‘genius’ in the field of mathematics.”

Mahan is Past President of ColoMATYC, Past President of the Colorado Association of Developmental Education (CoADE), District Representative for American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges (AMATYC), coordinator of the first AMATYC Beyond Crossroads workshop in the summer of 2008 at PPCC, and member of State Faculty Curriculum Committee (SFCC).

This is the first year ColoMATYC has bestowed this award. Pikes Peak Community College is privileged to have faculty of the caliber of Shawna Mahan.