MC students participate in MAA sectional meeting; mathematics chair receives accolade

Daniel Watson, center, chair of the Department of Mathematics at MC, receives the 2026 MAA Louisiana/Mississippi Crawford Distinguished Teaching Award from Taylor Poe, MC assistant professor of mathematics, while Jimmy Kimball, master instructor and assistant department head in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, observes.

Daniel Watson, associate professor and chair of the Department of Mathematics at Mississippi College, received the 2026 Mathematical Association of America (MAA) Louisiana/Mississippi Crawford Distinguished Teaching Award Feb. 28 during the organization’s section meeting at the University of Louisiana Lafayette.

The award is presented to an MAA member who has demonstrated excellence in undergraduate teaching.

“I was surprised, and it was an extreme honor to receive this award,” Watson said.

Taylor Poe, MC assistant professor of mathematics, said it is an honor for Watson to be recognized among professors from private and public colleges across Mississippi and Louisiana.

“Dr Watson is a true servant leader,” said Poe, who nominated him for the award. “He keeps his office door open for students and faculty. I've seen him give not only math advice, but life wisdom to his students.

“He encourages his faculty and supports us, working with us to adjust our schedules to accommodate other circumstances in our lives. He serves on multiple committees and leadership roles across campus, yet always has time for a student in need.”

As part of his award, Watson will give a teaching presentation at next year's LAMS MAA meeting in Starkville.

Watson, Poe, John Travis, MC professor of mathematics, and Kevin Burns, MC professor of mathematics, brought nine MC students to the section meeting: Nick Allen, Sadie Breland, Ginny Ray Clevenger, Claire Griffin, Michelle Harvath, Sam Haygood, Linda Kingma, Caroline McCoy and Luke Smith.

Watson said the meeting was an opportunity for MC math students to engage with mathematics in a real-world setting, compete in problem-solving challenges and network with peers and faculty from other institutions.

Haygood reached the final round of the meeting’s “Integration Bee,” finishing in fourth place out of 59 participants. Allen, Harvath, Kingma, McCoy and Smith also participated in the bee. Two teams of four MC students participated in a student team competition during the meeting.

Watson said MC’s continuing participation in the Louisiana/Mississippi Section Meeting emphasizes the University’s commitment to academic rigor and intellectual growth.