skip the i-GuideIllinois State UniversityAdmissions at ISUAcademics at ISUEvents at ISUMap of ISUISU A to Z ListingISU AccessibilityISU 150th Anniversary
College of Arts and Sciences News
Article Details
Presmeg Delivers Arts and Sciences Lecture
Dr. Norma Presmeg
Dr. Norma Presmeg
On Thursday evening, Dr. Norma Presmeg, Professor of Mathematics, delivered the 73rd Arts and Sciences Lecture, "Bridging the Arts and Sciences in Mathematics Education Research" to a captive audience. During her lecture, Presmeg focused on her research on visualization. Specifically, Presmeg discussed the instrument she created to determine whether one is a visualizer—a person who uses visual mental images to solve mathematical problems—and how she used that construct to shed light on why visualizers often do not do well in mathematics courses and to develop methods by which teachers might help visualizers succeed in the classroom. "Dr. Presmeg's body of work in mathematics education research establishes her as a leading international scholar," said Dean Olson."Her lecture was insightful and impressive, and I feel honored to serve on the same faculty with Dr. Presmeg."

Dr. Ken Clements
Dr. Ken Clements introducing
Dr. Presmeg at the Lecture

A faculty member in Mathematics since 2000, Presmeg was born and educated in South Africa. She majored in mathematics and physics at Rhodes University in Grahamstown, South Africa, but also pursued studies in philosophy, music, and English literature. She received a second honor's degree in education, a master's degree in educational psychology, and ultimately her PhD in mathematics education from Cambridge University.

In his introduction of Dr. Presmeg, Dr. Ken Clements (Professor, Department of Mathematics) described her work on visualization in her dissertation as a masterpiece—breaking new theoretical and methodological ground. He went on to say that Dr. Presmeg has become "one of the most, if not the most, influential scholars in mathematics education."

Presmeg taught at the University of Durban-Westville in South Africa prior to emigrating to the U.S. in 1990. While teaching in South Africa, Presmeg shifted her research focus to culture in mathematics education, specifically the study of ethnomathematics—the use of elements from students' cultures to teach mathematics.

Dean Olson presents medallion to Dr. Presmeg
Dean Olson presenting the Arts and Sciences medallion
to Dr. Presmeg

The author of more than 60 referred papers, two edited books, and 24 book chapters, Presmeg has presented at 88 international and national conferences. She is the editor of Educational Studies in Mathematics and book review editor of the Journal for Research in Mathematics Education. Presmeg has received over $850,000 in grant funding for her research on visualization in teaching and learning mathematics; metaphor, metonymy and imaginative rationality in mathematical thought; and history of mathematics.

The Arts and Sciences Lecture Series was established in 1968 as a means of honoring Arts and Sciences faculty members. It is a peer-determined award that recognizes the significant national or international reputation of a scholar and/or teacher in the College. Being chosen by one’s peers to be the Arts and Sciences Lecturer is, alongside the Dean's Award, the highest honor that the College of Arts and Sciences can bestow on one of its faculty.  

Return