MAA Member Chris Stevens Awarded Smith College Medal

September 17, 2009

T. Christine ("Chris") Stevens, a longtime MAA member and winner of Association teaching and service awards, will receive a Smith College Medal in February 2010. The award, established in 1962, recognizes Smith College graduates who exemplify, in their lives and through their work, the "true purpose" of a liberal arts education.

Stevens '70 is probably best known for helping create the MAA's Project NExT (New Experiences in Teaching), a mentoring and professional development program for new Ph.D.s in the mathematical sciences. Since its inception, Project NExT has guided more than 1,100 young mathematicians into the profession. Stevens has also chaired the MAA's Committee on Science Policy.

Stevens earned a Master's and a Ph.D. in mathematics from Harvard University, and garnered a Congressional Science Fellowship. Stevens (St. Louis University) has served on SIAM's committees on science policy and education; worked as an NSF program officer for precollege and undergraduate mathematics education; and was a legislative assistant to Congressman Ted Weiss (Democrat, N.Y.) on defense, arms control, education, and science and technology.

Source: Smith College, Sept. 10, 2009.