Math Instructor Nancy Vendeville Recognized as an Exceptional Instructor

12/03/2012

Math instructor Nancy Vendeville has been recognized as an excellent educator. She was the 2012 recipient of the Teaching Excellence Award from the Michigan Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges. She received the award at the MichMATYC Conference at Monroe County Community College on Oct. 6.

The award has been given every year since its establishment in 1999. The selection criterion includes instructional effectiveness and support of students, professional involvement and professional development activities, interaction with colleagues and service to departments and colleges.

Vendeville’s colleagues and fellow instructors Kandiah “Bala” Balachandran and Tim Kane nominated her for the award. “I am inspired by her teaching techniques, her concern for her students, and the friendly spirit she displays all the time,” Balachandran said. Kane agreed. “I admire Nancy as both a professional and as a person,” he said. “She is the right combination of talent, dedication, support, and perspective. She is my definition of Teaching Excellence.”

Vendeville started teaching at Kalamazoo Valley in the college’s math department in 2003 and has served as department chair since 2011. “Her innovative and no-nonsense leadership has helped her earn the respect of our large and diverse department,” Kane said. “Her organizational and communication skills have also given us greater esteem in the eyes of the students, the college, and the community.”

Vendeville has taught a variety of classes, from Technical Mathematics to Pre-calculus. “She has a natural ability to communicate with students and explain difficult material in a way that students can comprehend,” Balachandran said. “She has given her time and effort to instruct colleagues in the use of technology including Math Type software, MyMathLab for homework assignments and Jing. Her competence and leadership in the use of technology in the classroom is highly appreciated by her students, the department, and especially me. One of her greatest strengths is that she is always very helpful to students and colleagues, and no question is too silly to ask.”

Vendeville said just being nominated for the award was an honor. “I am humbled to say the least! Just knowing that my colleagues, dean, and students thought highly enough of me to complete and submit the nomination packet fills me with pride,” she said. “To actually win this award for doing a job that I love so much is icing on the cake!”