Dr. Thomas Dence Receives Ashland University’s Excellence in Scholarship Award

Dr. Thomas Dence, professor of mathematics at Ashland University, was honored last week as the University’s first recipient of the Ashland University Excellence in Scholarship Award.

Dence received a medallion and a check for $5,000 at the Faculty Scholarship Luncheon on campus. The Ashland University Excellence in Scholarship Award recognizes Ashland University faculty who have demonstrated outstanding scholarship.

As part of the luncheon, Dence spoke on “Keep your eyes and ears open, and remember to vary the parameter.” University Provost Dr. Frank Pettigrew made the award presentation.

“Dr. Tom Dence has served Ashland University for 27 years as a faculty member in the Department of Mathematics and clearly has a love for his subject of mathematics,” Pettigrew noted. “As a full professor and a seasoned veteran, he continues to be a productive scholar by writing books, producing articles and delivering papers. In 2010 alone, Tom published four articles in prestigious journals, co-authored an advanced calculus textbook and delivered three papers at professional conferences.”

Pettigrew said Dence is actively engaged with students in their research and their introduction to the math profession at the state and regional levels.

“He consistently supports and involves students in the Mathematical Association of America state meetings and encourages students to get involved with a variety of professional organizations,” he said. “Tom Dence epitomizes what a teacher scholar is at Ashland University; he is a dedicated and incredible scholar and serves as a role-model for all our faculty and students.”

Dence has a national reputation for his expository work in mathematics, and his textbook on the “Elements of Number Theory” is used all over the country in institutions of higher education as a standard textbook.

He has published five books and more than 60 articles in refereed journals, and has presented more than 40 papers to professional societies. He also has published in the American Mathematical Monthly, which is generally regarded as the world’s leading journal aimed at undergraduates.

Dence is a University Mentor Award winner and has previously been awarded the Distinguished Professor of College and University Teaching of Mathematics for the Ohio section of the Mathematical Association of America.

After receiving a bachelor of science in education degree from Bowling Green State University, Dence received a master of arts degree from the University of Colorado and a Ph.D. from Colorado State University.

Dence currently resides in Huron, Ohio with his wife Kathy.

Ashland University (www.ashland.edu) is a mid-sized, private university conveniently located a short distance from Akron, Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio. Ashland University values the individual student and offers a unique educational experience that combines the challenge of strong, applied academic programs with a faculty and staff who build nurturing relationships with their students.