Dr. Mark Colgan, Professor of Mathematics was awarded the 2025 Teaching Excellence and Campus Leadership Award at Taylor University on August 29 during the Academic Chapel. This award celebrates those who embody outstanding classroom teaching, attentive care for students, and servant leadership across the Taylor campus. The following commendation was shared at the award ceremony:
“This year’s recipient is admired by both students and colleagues. Students describe this year’s recipient as genuinely kind and caring, a favorite professor, and one of the best faculty at Taylor. Students consistently highlight how this professor makes class engaging, interactive, and even fun. Some named this professor’s courses as their favorite, even if they don’t typically enjoy the subject. One student shared, ‘I’ve honestly never had a class that was more put together, nor a class that made learning so easy and beneficial, because it was taught in such an understanding way.’ And students also say that this professor’s jokes are top-notch.
“Faculty colleagues deeply respect this year’s recipient as well, recognizing not only this professor’s scholarship and teaching excellence but also his leadership and service.
“One faculty member, mentored by this professor, described him as someone who ‘strikes a beautiful balance between deep thinking and action… never satisfied with simple answers to difficult questions… quick to smile, slow to speak, and with a wittiness that endears him to students, staff, and faculty. I personally benefited from his mentoring. He embodies the Taylor ethos of Christ-centered and student-focused.’
“This year’s award recipient has served Taylor faithfully as a department chair, associate dean, chair of major faculty committees, and recently as faculty moderator. He was also honored this past May with the inaugural School of Natural and Applied Sciences Exemplary Service Award. For years, he has offered extensive support to the Bedi Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence—mentoring, leading reading groups, and presenting to support and inspire others.”
Dr. Colgan joined the Taylor faculty in 1992. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics and Computer Science and in Christian Education from Anderson University, a Master of Arts in Mathematics from Indiana University, and a Ph.D. in Mathematics Education from Indiana University.
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