Asbury Math Professor Wins Prestigious Award

April 10, 2018

Among Asbury University Math students and alumni, Dr. David Coulliette ’81 already enjoys a reputation for excellence in teaching — a reputation that was further affirmed by a prestigious award on April 6.

The Kentucky Section of the Mathematical Association of America (KYMMA) selected Coulliette for the 2018 KYMMA Teaching Award — a statewide award that honors an outstanding Math professor each year.

The guidelines for nominees include holding membership in the Mathematical Association of America, having more than seven years of teaching experience in the subject of mathematical science and teaching mathematics at least part-time during the academic year. Nominees must also be widely recognized as extraordinarily successful in their teaching and have an influence beyond their institution.

“I think this award goes way beyond my personal efforts,” Coulliette said. “It represents the long-term commitment to excellence of Asbury mathematics. All of my math colleagues at Asbury are amazing teachers who invest wholeheartedly in our students. We also have a heritage of exceptional students and alums who are serving the Kingdom in a variety of ways using mathematics. I’m proud that this award gives recognition to Asbury Mathematics at a broader level.”

Coulliette first discovered his passion for mathematics as an Asbury student. After studying as a Mathematics major at the University, he continued his education, earning a master’s degree in Mathematical Sciences at the University of Central Florida and a Ph.D. in Mathematics at Florida State University. Coulliette spent over 20 years serving in the U.S. Military, where he worked for five years in the Navy Nuclear Power Program and later transferred to the Air Force where he worked in research and development.

In 2000, Coulliette returned to teach at his alma mater and now has spent nearly two decades educating Math majors in his classes. Aside from teaching a variety of mathematics courses at the University, Coulliette also spends time researching topics such as environmental modeling, fluid dynamics, mantle dynamics and computational finance.

“This award is a testimony to the dedication and quality of our faculty at Asbury, and David Coulliette truly embodies academic excellence and spiritual vitality,” said Mathematics Department Chair Dr. Cheryll Crowe. “It is exciting to see Asbury University gain prominence and recognition at the state and national level.”

Coulliette was nominated by a colleague who submitted a letter of recommendation and samples of Coulliette’s work to the KYMMA for review.

Following his win at the KYMMA spring meeting, Coulliette will be considered for the national Deborah and Franklin Tepper Haimo Award for Distinguished College or University Teaching of Mathematics. A larger dossier evidencing Coulliette’s exceptional work will be reviewed by the Mathematical Association of America.

“I’m very honored and humbled,” Coulliette said. “The KYMAA is a wonderful organization of faculty from all of the colleges and universities in Kentucky with some of the best math teachers that I’ve encountered. I’m very grateful.”

To learn more about Asbury’s Math Department, visit asbury.edu/Math.