Linda Gilbert Saucier facts for kids
Linda Gilbert Saucier (born in 1948) is an American mathematician and author of many math textbooks. She is a respected retired professor of mathematics and computer science from the University of South Carolina Upstate.
Early Life and Education
Linda Phillips, as she was known before marriage, was the daughter of Rudd George Phillips. Her father worked as an education expert for the United States Air Force.
She grew up in Gulfport, Mississippi. Linda loved learning and earned several college degrees from Louisiana Tech University. She received her first degree (a Bachelor of Science, or B.S.) in 1970. She then earned a Master of Science (M.S.) in 1972 and a Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) in 1977. A Ph.D. is the highest degree you can get in a specific subject.
For her Ph.D., she wrote a special research paper called a dissertation. Her paper used a type of math called linear algebra to study how diseases spread, which is known as epidemiology. The paper was titled An application of the Jordan canonical form to the epidemic problem. This means she used a specific math method to understand how epidemics work.
Career and Books
After finishing her studies, Linda Gilbert Saucier became a teacher, or "faculty member," at Louisiana Tech University. She taught alongside her husband and fellow author, Jimmie Gilbert.
Linda Gilbert Saucier has written many math books. She has published over 37 mathematics textbooks! Some of her well-known books include Elements of Modern Algebra, College Algebra, College Trigonometry, Precalculus, and Matrix Theory. These books help students learn different areas of math.
She retired from the University of South Carolina Upstate in 2011. When she retired, she was given the special title of "distinguished professor emerita." This title honors her many years of excellent teaching and contributions to the university.
