Elizabeth Arnold, assistant professor of mathematics education at Montana State University, has been awarded the 2025 Henry L. Alder Award from the Mathematical Association of America. The honor recognizes an early-career faculty member whose outstanding teaching contributions have impacted undergraduate mathematics education beyond the classroom.
“A lot of undergrads who take the math-major courses go on to graduate school, where they will be teaching, or others will be teaching in some other kind of capacity,” said Dr. Arnold. “I like to expand their view of the different kinds of careers that you can do with mathematics and the different kinds of problems you can focus on.”
Dr. Arnold joined the Montana State faculty in 2024. In addition to teaching students, she also leads community initiatives to advance mathematics education for local youth and families. She recently received a grant from the Mathematical Association of America for her project, “Navo’ėstanemo: Summer Math Modeling and Family Math Nights.” The project includes an immersive, two-day summer camp for youth to learn about mathematical modeling, as well as two family math nights geared towards elementary school students, their families, and community members.
Dr. Arnold received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and a master’s degree in mathematical modeling from Humboldt State University in California. She earned a second master’s degree in statistics and a Ph.D. in mathematics education from Montana State University.