Pólya Lectureship

George Pólya embodied the high quality of exposition which the Mathematical Association of America seeks to encourage. To further this goal, the Board of Governors of the Association hereby creates the George Pólya Lectureship. This Lectureship will be held by an individual representing the high standards set by George Pólya. Each Section will be entitled to a Pólya Lectureship approximately every five years.

MAA Board of Governors, January 1990



Sections are eligible to have a Pólya Lecturer speak at a Section meeting once every five years, with all travel expenses borne by the MAA. A new Pólya Lecturer will be appointed every year, with a term of two academic years. The first year of the term overlaps the term of the previous Pólya Lecturer and the second year overlaps the term of the next Pólya Lecturer. Sections will be eligible during the academic year, once every five years, on a rotating basis.

Eligible Sections should complete the Pólya Lecturer Request Form, by November 1 of their year of eligibility to coordinate a lecture. In the year a Section is eligible for the Pólya Lecturer, a Section may in addition choose a speaker from the list of National Officers to visit the Section.

The 2008 - 2009 Pólya Lecturers are:

George E. Andrews

Louis H. Kauffman


Following is the rotation for Pólya Lecturer eligibility:

2008-2009

EPaDel
Iowa
Metro New York
North Central
Pacific Northwest
Southwestern

2009-2010

Florida
Kansas
Michigan
Northeastern
Rocky Mountain
Texas

2010-2011

Illinois
Kentucky
Missouri
NoCaNeHi
Seaway
Wisconsin

2011-2012

Indiana
Louisiana/Mississippi
Nebraska/SE South Dakota
Ohio
Southeastern

2012-2013

Allegheny Mountain
Intermountain
Maryland/DC/Virginia
New Jersey
Oklahoma/Arkansas
SoCal/Nevada

2013-2014

EPaDel
Iowa
Metro New York
North Central
Pacific Northwest
Southwestern


It is customary for the section to waive any registration, banquet and social fees. The Pólya Lecturer will pay his/her own travel expenses and will be reimbursed by the national organization. We ask that a section be a thoughtful host. In the crush of meeting details and the distribution of duties amongst section officers and local arrangements faculty, it is sometimes easy for responsibilities to fall through the cracks. Please be sure to consider your visitors' arrangements for travel, lodging, meals, local transportation and registration. In the days of "Saturday night stayovers", it is especially cordial that the section consider Saturday evening dining arrangements. At least give visiting speakers options ("a ride would be great" or "I'll catch a cab") for airport pickups, get-togethers at meals, etc. Be sure to communicate fully about the schedule of events at your meeting.

Pólya Lecturer Request Form

View the list of past Pólya Lecturers