Jay Zimmerman has made extraordinary contributions to teaching, scholarship and service—ranging from the Department of Mathematics to the University System of Maryland (USM)—during his 26 years as a member of Towson’s faculty. His selfless example has established him as a preeminent teacher and role model for colleagues across academic disciplines.
He was honored with the President’s Award for Distinguished Service during Winter 2015 Commencement.
Professor Zimmerman earned his B.A. degree in mathematics and physics from Knox College, followed by an M.S. and a Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Illinois. He joined Towson’s faculty in 1989 as an assistant professor of mathematics. In 1996 he was promoted to associate professor; he has held the rank of professor since 2001.
He has taught more than 20 undergraduate and graduate courses, earning the fall 2001 Excellence in Teaching Award from the College of Science and Mathematics. He is recognized not only for his teaching and attention to his students, but also for developing new and innovative courses for the mathematics curriculum at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. A proponent of distance learning, he taught sections of differential equations, discrete mathematics, and basic statistics via synchronous distance education to Towson students and students at high schools in Baltimore and Baltimore County from 1996 to 2002.
His scholarship includes more than 34 refereed papers published in nationally and internationally recognized journals. He has given more than 30 talks and presentations in addition to three invited lectures. He represents Towson University regularly at regional, national and international conferences. His research program with TU colleague Coy L. May has been expanded with a Fisher Endowment grant to include research opportunities for undergraduate students.
Professor Zimmerman’s record of service is considerable and far-reaching. He has been a member of more than 15 departmental committees (chairing three), in addition to extensive service to his college. On the university level, he has been actively involved in the University Senate since 2001. He has served on 16 university committees, chairing the University Curriculum Committee and co-chairing the Provost’s Workload Committee. He was vice president and subsequently president of the local AAUP chapter. He represented Towson ably as a member of six USM committees, five workgroups and eight regents’ awards committees. More recently, he served as vice chair and later as chair of the USM Council of University System Faculty. In these roles, he has had an influence on the Board of Regent’s policies for all 12 USM institutions.
In fall 2007, the Fisher College of Science and Mathematics recognized his teaching, scholarship and service with its Outstanding Faculty Award.
