RELEASED: April 16, 2009

DANVILLE, KY—Dr. Christine Shannon, Margaret V. Haggin Professor of Science and professor of mathematics and computer science, is the recipient of the 2009 Award for Distinguished College and University Teaching of Mathematics by the Kentucky section of the Mathematics Association of America. The annual award recognizes a Kentucky mathematics educator for teaching excellence. The MAA is devoted to promoting and encouraging the study, the teaching and the learning of mathematics.

"Dr. Shannon definitely deserves this award, and I hope she continues to inspire and require the best of her students for many more years at Centre," says Michael Henry, a senior mathematics and Spanish double major. "I've had Dr. Shannon in four courses at Centre, and her uncanny ability to relate some of the most complex logic to her students is unparalleled. I couldn't begin to explain how much I've learned in her classes. She's right every single time she exclaims, 'Look how much you've learned since the beginning of the semester!'"

A member of the Centre faculty since 1989, Shannon had 17 years of prior college teaching experience and became the first person ever hired at Centre at the rank of full professor. She has served as chair of the Division of Science and Mathematics.

Shannon received a rigorous and classical training in mathematics in her undergraduate and doctoral work, and then chose to return for advanced study in computer science. She is interested in applying core mathematics concepts to problem solving using computer science. She has teaching and research interests in applied mathematics, design of algorithms and programming languages.

At the ceremony, the Kentucky section of the MAA also honored Shannon's husband, David, who teaches mathematics at Transylvania University. Together the couple have more than 70 years of teaching experience at Kentucky colleges and universities.

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Founded in 1819, Centre College is ranked among the U.S. News top 50 national liberal arts colleges. Consumers Digest ranks Centre No. 1 in educational value among all U.S. liberal arts colleges. Centre alumni, known for their nation-leading loyalty in annual financial support, include two U.S. vice presidents and two Supreme Court justices. For more, visit http://www.centre.edu/web/elevatorspeech/

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