The Department of Mathematics at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has had two recipients of LAS teaching awards. Vincent Villalobos has received the award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching for Graduate Teaching Assistants, and Burak Erdogan has received the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching.
Vincent Villalobos, mathematics. Villalobos is known for creating inclusive, student-centered classrooms that frame introductory calculus and geometry as meaningful and collaborative processes. “Students left discussions not only knowing how to solve problems but why the underlying principles mattered. The use of student feedback to refine each discussion section speaks to a rare professionalism and commitment to educational growth,” wrote a former student.
Burak Erdogan, professor of mathematics. Erdogan is recognized for helping undergraduates develop mathematical reasoning and confidence through carefully structured, interactive courses that emphasize problem-solving and independent thinking. “Professor Erdogan teaches his mathematics courses with hand-drawn images and figures that illuminated the intention and intuition behind the seemingly abstract theorems and formulas that would show up throughout the material,” wrote a student.