Dr. Emily Thomas is 2024 Excellence in Teaching recipient

Associate Professor of Mathematics Dr. Emily Thomas is the 2024 South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities Excellence in Teaching Award recipient for Charleston Southern University.

A member of the Charleston Southern faculty since 2016, Thomas teaches Introduction to Mathematical Structures, Precalculus, Business Calculus, and Discrete Mathematics. She enjoys working with students to improve these courses and has conducted multiple research projects to identify pathways to increased student success.

Thomas uses her service as the state director for the Mathematical Association of America to provide research opportunities for students. Recent CSU graduate Maddy Parsons said, “Her unmistakable love for mathematics is infectious, but her passion for students is something that would be extremely challenging to match. She is more than a professor at CSU; she is the epitome of academic excellence while also keeping Christ at the forefront.”

Outside the classroom, Thomas serves as the supervisor for the Math Help Center and continuously looks for opportunities to improve this important student resource. In August 2022 she established a tutoring partnership with Summerville’s Northwood Academy that teams Charleston Southern math professors and math majors with local high school students. 

Provost Dr. Michael Wilder said, “Dr. Thomas exemplifies CSU’s commitment to distinctly Christian, academically excellent education as she deeply invests in the next generation of thought leaders. She is a highly valued member of our university community, and we are grateful for her teaching excellence.”

She holds a PhD and MS in mathematics, both from the University of Arkansas. She also earned a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from Samford University. She is married to Dr. Ryan Thomas, associate professor of mathematics, at CSU.