Patel is an alum of Gujarat University.
AB Wire
Mathematics professor Dr. Jigarkumar Patel was one of the four University of Texas Dallas instructors who were honored for their teaching and mentoring accomplishments at the spring Honors Convocation.
Patel received the President’s Teaching Excellence Award for a non-tenure-track faculty member. He earned both a master’s degree and PhD in applied mathematics from UT Dallas, according to the university. He also received bachelor’s degrees in pure mathematics and education, and a master’s degree in pure mathematics from Gujarat University.
Patel has been a senior lecturer since 2011 and is course coordinator for Applied Calculus II. In comments in Patel’s nomination materials, students praised him for the clarity of his lectures, his enthusiasm for his subject matter and his willingness to work one on one with students outside of class.
“Students are usually very sensitive to whether their teacher is interested in teaching,” said Patel, who was inspired to become an educator by his mother, who is a teacher.
Patel’s philosophy puts students at the center of the teaching process. To explain certain concepts clearly, he said, a good instructor will move down to the students’ level and know when to change gears during teaching.
“I pay personal attention to the students who struggle with the material, and I always encourage them to come to my office if there is any question,” Patel said. “If needed, I’ll go over the entire lecture again to help them understand material. I want to keep motivating them to perform better.
“I truly believe that good teachers are the base of any nation because they have the extraordinary ability to generate scientists, engineers, doctors and other professionals who contribute to a country’s development,” he said.
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love this man