Rate My Professor Thomas Awtry

Thomas Awtry, Ph.D., serves as Dean of STEM at Tarrant County College's Southeast Campus in the Mathematics faculty, overseeing programs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. He previously held the position of Dean of Mathematics, Science, and Health and Physical Education at the same campus since joining in 2010. Awtry earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and Computer Science summa cum laude from Louisiana State University-Shreveport, a Master of Science degree in Mathematics from Louisiana State University-Baton Rouge, and a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Louisiana State University-Baton Rouge.

Prior to Tarrant County College, Awtry was Chair of the Department of Mathematics and Physical Sciences at Louisiana State University-Alexandria, contributing to its transition from a two-year to a four-year institution. He began his academic career around 1995 as an assistant mathematics professor and taught at LSU-Baton Rouge and Southeastern Louisiana University. At LSUA, he obtained grants for in-service workshops training Louisiana classroom teachers in reform mathematics, mentoring elementary and middle-school teachers via four-week programs on content and teaching strategies. Awtry received two Endowed Professorships at LSUA, the 2009 LSUA Boss of the Year Award, and the 2008 Louisiana Association of Teachers of Mathematics Outstanding College Mathematics Teacher Award. He led LSUA's Dual Enrollment initiative, Transitions Developmental Program, and Summer Schedule Revision Committee. His research addresses perceptual aspects of algebra, with a key publication being 'Visual Salience of Algebraic Transformations,' co-authored with David Kirshner in the Journal for Research in Mathematics Education (2004).