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Prof. Simonett receives Madison Sarratt Prize

Posted by on Friday, April 25, 2025 in News, Spotlight.

Prof. Gieri Simonett received the Madison Sarratt Prize for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching. This is a prestigious, and well-deserved, university-wide award. This is a major recognition for one of our cherished colleagues.

As per the College of Arts and Science news release, Simonett has 30 years of experience teaching at Vanderbilt, working with students to tackle mathematics, including challenging courses in multivariable calculus and linear algebra. Simonett shares his knowledge with the students in a fun and colorful manner. Students recognized his kindness and support as key elements to weathering the rigors of the class material.  “Central to his class is the feeling that one is on a great adventure,” one student nominator said.

Those of us who have worked closely with Prof. Simonett are keenly aware of his passion for education, his care and empathy for our students, and his wonderful sense of humor. Prof. Simonett is one of the few senior faculty to have regularly taught Calculus throughout his career. In the words of one of our longstanding faculty, Prof. Simonett is a “legend” in Math 2300.

If you would like to see Chancellor Diermeier’s presentation of the award, click here.

The Madison Sarratt Prize for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching was established by the Board of Trust in 1964 and is supported by Living Endowment funds contributed by alumni. The final selection for this award is made by the Chancellor on the basis of nominations made by undergraduates of all schools and colleges.

Prof. Simonett’s award is the first Madison Sarratt Prize for the Department of Mathematics since Billy F. Bryant won the inaugural award in 1965, exactly 6 decades ago. Bryant was a faculty member from 1948 to 1986, and was Chair of the Department from 1970 to 1976. Our departmental award for excellent in teaching by graduate students was endowed in his name.

Charles Madison Sarratt himself was the chair of the Department of Mathematics from 1924 to 1946.  He also served as Vice Chancellor, Dean of Students, Dean of Alumni, and Dean of Men. He co-authored a book, the Alexander–Sarratt Arithmetics.  He is a member of the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame.  The Vanderbilt Student Center is named for him.  A plaque on the building says: “Today I am going to give you two examinations, one in trigonometry and one in honesty. I hope you will pass them both but if you must fail one, let it be trigonometry.” -Madison Sarratt

Congratulations, Gieri!