Deborah Kent, associate professor of mathematics, recently was honored for exceptional mathematics writing. The Mathematical Association of America issued Kent the Paul R. Halmos-Lester R. Ford Award during the association’s MAA MathFest, one of the nation’s largest gatherings of mathematicians, on July 27.
“Award winners represent the best in mathematical writing, and we are proud that they are choosing to publish their work with the Mathematical Association of America,” said Michael Pearson, executive director of the MAA. “Clear and effective writing is the foundation of the mathematical community and the wider scientific community.”
The Paul R. Halmos-Lester R. Ford Award recognizes exceptional authors that have published in The American Mathematical Monthly, the MAA’s flagship journal. Kent and co-author David J. Muraki, professor of mathematics at Simon Fraser University, were honored for their work on the article “A Geometric Solution of a Cubic by Omar Khayyam … in Which Colored Diagrams Are Used Instead of Letters for the Greater Ease of Learners.” The article appeared in the journal’s February 2016 issue.
Kent earned her Ph.D. and M.S. in mathematics from the University of Virginia. Her current research in the history of mathematics focuses on mathematical journals in the 19th and early 20th centuries. As an associate professor at Drake, she teaches mathematics and is always on the alert for colorful classroom narratives.
The Mathematical Association of America is the world’s largest community of mathematicians, students, and enthusiasts. The association accelerates the understanding of our world through mathematics because mathematics drives society and shapes our lives.