Posted - May 17, 2011

Math Professor Prabhu Venkataraman  Receives Eureka College Teaching Award

excellence, creativity, and innovation in teaching

Prabhu Venkataraman of Washington, a Eureka College assistant professor of mathematics since 2008, was named the 2011 recipient of the Helen Cleaver Distinguished Teaching Award at the college’s commencement May 14.

The award recognizes excellence, creativity and innovation in teaching. It includes a financial stipend, and the award-winner is the speaker at the college’s fall opening convocation. Nominations are made by faculty, staff and students, and the winner is chosen by a selection committee.

The award is named for a 1928 Eureka College alumna who had a long and successful teaching career.      

“Dr. Venkataraman is a talented, creative and generous teacher and mentor,” said Provost and Dean of the College Philip Acree Cavalier, who presented the award. “He extends well beyond the boundaries of his discipline in designing courses, exemplifying his interdisciplinary approach to teaching,” Cavalier said. Students who nominated Venkataraman said he illuminates and clarifies difficult concepts and uses frequent, spontaneous humor to help students cope with the challenges of new material.  

Venkataraman teaches pre-calculus, calculus with analytical geometry, foundations of geometry, linear algebra, discrete mathematics, quantitative methods, differential equations, probability and statistics and real analysis. He received a bachelor’s degree from Truman State University, Kirksville, Mo., and a master’s degree and doctorate, both from the University of Florida, Gainesville.

-30-

.

Contact:

Michele Lehman

Media Relations Coordinator

mlehman@eureka.edu

(309) 467-6318