“Dianne’s dedication to seeing students succeed is a credit to her character,” said Dr. Jon Spence, director of the Center for Student Success at Evangel. “She is a diligent teacher and advisor, guiding students through their programs and mentoring them through challenges.”
The students and faculty at Evangel University have honored Dianne Twigger, assistant professor of mathematics, for this dedication and for her outstanding accomplishments as a young member of the EU faculty.
The Orville & Jewel Mills Young Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching, Scholarship and Service was presented on May 4, during the 60th Annual Commencement Ceremony.
Orville and Jewel Mills established the award in 2006 to recognize outstanding professors who are less than 45 years of age. It includes an unrestricted cash grant. Orville Mills is a retired comptroller of Exxon-Mobile and serves on the EU board of trustees. The couple’s three daughters are graduates of Evangel.
“Dianne was a great advisor and mentor during my time at Evangel,” said Samantha Orr, a secondary math education major who graduated in 2017.
“As a teacher she strives to get to know each student in order to help them be successful in and out of classrooms and builds the relationship that lasts beyond students’ time at Evangel. Her office is always open and available for help in any class, Godly wisdom, advice about life, or just to spend time,” said Orr, who recently completed her first year teaching math at Fair Grove Middle School.
A mentor’s heart
Twigger graduated from Evangel University in 2006 with a B.S. in Mathematics Education. She completed her M.S. in Mathematics at Missouri State University in 2008 and was immediately hired as an instructor there starting that fall.
In 2013, she returned to Evangel University as an assistant professor in the Department of Natural and Applied Sciences, where she advises all of the secondary math education majors and some of the mathematics majors as well.
“My favorite part of my job is mentoring students,” said Twigger. “It is a great responsibility to help a student through such a pivotal stage of life, and is one I do not take lightly. I enjoy getting to know them beyond the classroom walls — whether in the office, at university events, or on trips to conferences.”
Twigger is active with Evangel’s chapter of Kappa Mu Epsilon, the national mathematics honor society, and she regularly travels with students and Dr. Don Tosh to conferences. In 2017, the two of them hosted the national Kappa Mu Epsilon conference with more than 100 participants.
Reflecting on the recent commencement at Evangel, Twigger said, “I am in awe at each graduation ceremony, as I see the culmination of their hard work and can reflect on the journey that they have just finished. The Lord is faithful!”
Leadership opportunities on campus have come her way, and she currently serves on the core curriculum committee, the professional development committee, and the adult and graduate studies council.
“It is an honor to serve alongside the members of the Evangel community. Every day when I interact with the students, staff and faculty, I know that there is no place I would rather be. Being able to give back to the university that first fueled my passion for learning is just a small way I can express my gratitude,” she concluded.
Outside of Evangel, she represents the University well as a member of the Mathematical Association of America, American Scientific Affiliation, and Christian Women in Science.
Dianne is married to Greg Twigger, who is also a 2006 graduate of Evangel. Together they have two children — Zach is six, and Bethany is four.
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RELATED — Dr. Robert Berg was also honored at the 2018 Commencement at Evangel University with the E.M. & Estella Clark Award for Excellence in Teaching, Scholarship and Service. — https://www.evangel.edu/press_releases/2018/06/06/berg-honor-academic-excellence/
