Chris Stevens (mathematician) facts for kids
Terrie Christine Stevens, also known as T. Christine Stevens, is an American mathematician. She studies special groups in math called topological groups, the history of math, and how to teach math better. She is also famous for helping start Project NExT, a program that helps new math teachers. She led this program for many years, from 1994 to 2009.
Becoming a Math Expert: Education and Career
Terrie Stevens went to Smith College and graduated in 1970. She then earned her highest degree, a doctorate, from Harvard University in 1978. Her main project for this degree was about "Weakened Topologies for Lie Groups," which is a complex topic in advanced math.
After her studies, she taught math at several universities. These included the University of Massachusetts Lowell, Mount Holyoke College, and Arkansas State University. Later, she joined Saint Louis University, where she taught math and computer science for 25 years.
Dr. Stevens also worked in government and for important science groups. In 1984–1985, she was a Congressional Science Fellow. This meant she helped a member of Congress, Theodore S. Weiss, with science-related topics. From 1987 to 1989, she worked at the National Science Foundation. This organization supports scientific research and education. After retiring from teaching, she took on a role at the American Mathematical Society. She helped organize meetings and professional services for mathematicians. She was also a member of the AMS Council from 2011 to 2013.
Awards and Recognition
Dr. Stevens has received many awards for her important work in mathematics.
In 1997, she won the Deborah and Franklin Haimo Award. This award celebrates excellent math teachers at colleges and universities.
In 2004, she received the Gung and Hu Award from the Mathematical Association of America. This award recognized her great service to mathematics, especially for her work with Project NExT.
Her old college, Smith College, honored her with the Smith College Medal in 2010.
She has been a special member, called a "fellow," of important science organizations. Since 2005, she has been a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. In 2012, she became one of the first fellows of the American Mathematical Society.
In 2015, she won the Louise Hay Award from the Association for Women in Mathematics. This award honors women who have made outstanding contributions to mathematics education.
