Navid Mohammad Mirzaei wins 2019 Excellence in Teaching Award for graduate students

​Navid Mohammad Mirzaei, a 4th year mathematics PhD candidate, won the 2019 Excellence in Teaching Award for graduate students. Navid works with Dr. Fok on Numerical Simulation of Atherosclerosis. Before pursuing doctoral Studies at UD he received my bachelor's degree in Pure Mathematics from Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran, and his master's in Pure Mathematics from Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran.  About receiving the award Navid said "This award means a lot to me. It serves as a reminder that caring about teaching and aspiring to be a better teacher does not go unnoticed by those in the classroom. Being a good mathematician does not necessarily translate into being a good math teacher. Both require practice and dedication, and I have found both to be equally worthy endeavors. In every classroom I make it a point to respect my students and do all that is possible to make them feel comfortable in the classroom. When students are comfortable and feel respected they engage and express all mathematical ideas, both right and wrong. By making sure that I am always prepared I am able to filter those moments in the classroom to expand on right answers and correct or revisit misconceptions the students hold. Treating their exams as a way for me to learn these misconceptions, rather than just a grade, is also invaluable. I believe that through processes like these a teacher can reach many students and it brings me joy to see my students succeed in my classroom and beyond."