By Fred Sgambati (’83, ’85)

Dr. Caroline Cochran has a passion for pedagogy and numbers. She loves to teach, and it all adds up to student success.

An instructor in Acadia’s Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Dr. Cochran keys on a multi-level approach that creates an engaging, adaptive and active classroom environment; customizes learning for the specific needs of a given class; and supports the different needs of her students.

The goal is to motivate students to learn, and she hopes that by drawing connections to real world programs they will be able to solve fundamental issues such as climate change, cures for disease, and social inequality through mathematical literacy, and be inspired to apply their knowledge as involved and engaged citizens of the world.

Dr. Cochran’s energy, enthusiasm and commitment to mathematics and learning are infinite. She teaches introductory Precalculus and Calculus courses and studios. She creates all the studio activities, updating them each year. She has written two workbooks for the courses and pioneered the use of a new adaptive-learning homework system. She organizes review and exam preparation sessions and navigates students through their first experience with university math, increasing their chances of success.  

Dr. Cochran also supervises and trains the Teaching Assistants who work in the Calculus studios and mark assignments. She manages the Math and Stats Help centre (MASH), a peer-tutoring, free-of-charge service that provides tutorials and help sessions to all introductory courses, assisting around 1,000 students each term. This past year, she extended the program to add Saturday Small Group tutoring for more accessible and individualized support.

Furthermore, she is actively involved in teaching mathematics to the community beyond Acadia, each summer co-organizing the Junior Math and Computer Science Camp at Acadia and leading enrichment activities at local schools. She is a co-organizer of the Calculus Instruction in Atlantic Canada Conference Series and a board member of the Atlantic Association for Research in the Mathematical Sciences.

Alumni Association President Matthew Rios (’14) applauded her selection, saying that “creating a safe and rigorous learning environment for Acadia’s students is fundamental to their success, not only during their time at Acadia, but as members of our alumni community after graduation. Dr. Cochran’s ability to foster that environment from the moment students arrive at Acadia to the completion of their academic program and beyond mirrors and amplifies our Association’s commitment to and investment in Acadia’s students. Her passion for teaching at all levels and promotion of experiential learning is unparalleled, and that is why we are delighted to acknowledge her as the 2024 recipient of the Acadia Alumni Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching.”

Dr. Cochran received the Faculty of Science Teaching Award from Acadia in 2018 and will be honoured as the 2024 recipient of the Acadia Alumni Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching at this year’s Alumni Awards Dinner on April 18 in Halifax. To learn more and purchase tickets, please click HERE.