Rate My Professor Shanna Banda

Shanna E. Banda, Ph.D., is Professor of Instruction in the Department of Mathematics within the College of Science at the University of Texas at Arlington, where she also serves as Assistant Vice Provost for Faculty Success. She earned her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2020, with an area of focus in Mathematics Education. With over 20 years of teaching experience at UTA, Dr. Banda has progressed through various roles, including lecturer, Distinguished Senior Lecturer and Learning Research Director in Mathematics, Associate Professor of Instruction, and Assistant Chair of the Mathematics Department. In her administrative capacity, she provides comprehensive support to Academic Professional Track faculty, encompassing professional development programs across career stages, oversight of faculty awards and recognition, annual reviews and promotion processes, management of the Faculty Profile and Management System, policy reviews for APT promotions and departmental handbooks, production of the bi-monthly Faculty Success Newsletter, and coordination of events such as the fall Promotion Dinner. She manages the Director of Faculty Management Systems, liaises with Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Student Success, and University Analytics internally, and serves externally as the campus liaison for Academic Analytics and co-chair of the UT System Faculty Affairs committee for APT faculty.

Dr. Banda's academic interests center on innovative mathematics pedagogy, including service-learning integration and online education enhancements. She co-teaches the service-learning course Elementary Statistical Analysis (MATH 1308) and collaborates with community partners such as The Salvation Army, Arlington Public Library, City of Arlington Parks and Recreation Department, United Way, Wings of Hope, River Legacy, Arlington Emergency Response, and Hope Tutoring. Her current IRB study investigates how civic engagement shapes student perceptions in academia. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she led the Mathematics Department's transition to robust online course offerings. Dr. Banda has authored instructional workbooks for courses including College Algebra (MATH 1302, 1315/1316) and her doctoral dissertation, 'Enhancing Student Mathematics Success through Service-Learning Courses' (2020). Her contributions have garnered recognition, including induction into the Academy of Distinguished Teachers (2024), the UT System Curricular Innovation Award for 'Online Service-Learning in Elementary Statistics' (2021, with colleagues), the College of Science Award for Excellence in Teaching (2017-18), participation in the Faculty Leadership Academy (2021), Faculty Fellows Program for the Center for Service Learning, Certified Peer Observer status, Canvas College Champion role, and Student Experience Project involvement. She is featured among Distinguished Women in Science for mentoring women in STEM.