Mays and Brady Named
Eberly Distinguished Professors of Teaching

Morgantown, WV, June 9, 2006: Dr. Michael Mays, Professor of Mathematics, and Dr. Laura Brady, Associate Professor of English, have been named Eberly Distinguished Professors of Outstanding Teaching by the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences at West Virginia University.

The Eberly Family Charitable Trust was established in 1984 by the children of Ruth R. Eberly and Orville Eberly. The initial trustees, Robert E. Eberly, Carolyn Eberly Blaney and Margaret Eberly George, were committed to providing support to educational institutions and public service associations. Through the generosity of the Eberly family, the West Virginia University Eberly College of Arts and Sciences has established various professorships to recruit, retain, and recognize truly outstanding faculty.

“I am very honored to be named as a distinguished professor of teaching-overwhelmed, in fact,” Dr. Brady stated. “And I appreciate the Eberly family’s support of undergraduate education at WVU.”

Dr. Laura Brady is also director of the Center for Writing Excellence in WVU’s English Department. The Center for Writing Excellence serves more than 8,000 undergraduate students each year in support of creative writing and research along with the development of writing programs to benefit the community. As director, Dr. Brady not only designs various programs, but she also provides and encourages growth and leadership in the students and faculty.

“Most students know that writing abilities are crucial if they are going to succeed academically and professionally,” Dr. Brady reflected. “Those are excellent reasons to write, but I also hope that my students come to recognize that writing is a way to explore ideas, to discover new layers of their own thoughts, to foster connections, to spark imagination. I hope to help my students see the power and pleasure of writing.” She added, “It's those connections that make me love teaching--and that keep me learning from my students every day.”

In 2004, Dr. Brady was named West Virginia Professor of the Year from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Learning. After earning her PhD from the University of Minnesota, she joined the faculty of WVU in 1991. Currently, she teaches undergraduate courses in composition and business writing and graduate courses in rhetoric and pedagogy, the art of teaching.

Dr. Michael Mays earned a B.A. from WVU in 1973, and a PhD from Pennsylvania State University in 1977. That year he returned to WVU as a member of the faculty.

He has served as visiting professor at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa and the University of Queensland in Australia. Presently, Dr. Mays conducts research in combinatorics and number theory. In 2004, he received the Distinguished Service Award granted by the West Virginia Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

In addition, Dr. Mays develops course materials and software for the Institute for Mathematics Learning (IML). IML’s goal is to ensure high standards, increase awareness of collegiate expectations in secondary schools and to provide teachers with appropriate tools for learning; working to improve the quality of math instruction throughout the state.

Dr. Mays also helps in the coordination of the WV State Math Field Day, a math competition geared toward encouraging academic growth and interest in the field of Mathematics. Students in grades 4-12 compete at the county and regional levels before advancing to the state level. “The state field day is for winners of regional field days, and it rotates to different sites. WVU has hosted the state contest twice in the last five years,” Dr. Mays explained. Dr. Mays plays an integral part in the state-wide event.

“The generous contribution of time by math faculty and students has let WVU support these worthy activities,” he added. “The most rewarding part of my career as a teacher has been the ongoing connections I have with my students. My students have been there to help me and encourage me when I needed them the most. They have given me far more than I have given them, and are some of my best friends,” Dr. Mays concluded.

“The Eberly College of Arts and Sciences is pleased to name Dr. Laura Brady and Dr. Michael Mays as Eberly Professors of Outstanding Teaching,” stated Dr. Mary Mazey, Dean of the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences. “Dr. Brady is a leader in initiating and implementing writing programs in her department and the College, and Dr. Mays provides leadership for math education for the department, College, and the State,” she continued.

“We are fortunate to have these two exceptional teachers as faculty members in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences.”

W-V-U