Irvine, Calif., May 13, 2003 — UC Irvine mathematics professor Mark Finkelstein has won the Distinguished Teaching Award from the Southern California section of the Mathematical Association of America. The award is given for excellence in undergraduate education and significant contributions to outreach and K-12 education.

“UCI is known for its high quality of teaching and no one exemplifies this more than Mark,� said Ronald Stern, dean of the School of Physical Sciences and professor of mathematics. “In addition, his work has been vital in our outreach efforts to increase math proficiency in Southern California schools.�

Finkelstein’s research is in probability theory and statistics, and he has long been recognized among UCI’s top teachers. He received the UCI Instructional Resources Center’s Celebration of Teaching Award for Teaching Excellence in 2002, the Lauds and Laurels Distinguished Teaching Award from the Academic Senate in 1993, and the Outstanding Teaching Award for the School of Physical Science in 1989.

The Mathematical Association of America is the world’s largest professional society of college and university mathematics teachers. As a section award winner, Finkelstein becomes a nominee for the national Deborah and Franklin Tepper Haimo Award for Distinguished College or University Teaching of Mathematics.

Finkelstein, 63, is a resident of Corona del Mar, California.