UNT Distinguished Teaching Professor John Quintanilla is being recognized at the 2014 Salute to Faculty Excellence as one of three UNT nominees for U.S. Professor of the Year.
Professor Quintanilla completed his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Mathematics from Stanford University in 1992, and he received his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering and Operations Research from Princeton University in 1997 under the supervision of Salvatore Torquato. Professor Quintanilla's research is in the area of applied probability, especially percolation theory and the application of microstructural information for predicting the effective macroscopic properties of random heterogeneous materials. He has published over 20 articles in his field of research and another half-dozen articles on mathematics education. Proessor Quintanilla is also the co-author of a calculus textbook for life scientists.
Professor Quintanilla has been honored with various awards for his outstanding teaching over the years, including the Coca Cola Scholars Foundation Joseph B. Whitehead Educator of Distinction Award (2001 and 2003), the UNT President's Council Teaching Award (2004), the Texas Section of the Mathematical Association of America Distinguished College or University Teaching of Mathematics Award (2005), and the Intel Science Talent Search Teacher of Merit (2008). Over the last seven years, Professor Quintanilla developed our courses: "Applied Statistics," which has among the highest enrollment of any upper-level math course, and "Advanced Study of the Secondary Mathematics Curriculum," which is a senior-level course where future teachers connect the undergraduate mathematics curriculum back to topics taught in high schools.
In recognition for this outstanding service to UNT, Professor Quintanilla has received the UNT President's Council Service Award (2010) and the UNT Mathematics Department Faculty Service Award (2012). Professor Quintanilla is co-director of the Teach North Texas program for preparing secondary teachers of mathematics and science, and he has helped earn over $5.3 million in support for the program and for scholarship support for its students. In addition, he serves as undergraduate advisor in the mathematics department and founded the department's undergraduate certificate in actuarial science. UNT has seen dramatic growth in its number of math majors as a result of Professor Quintanilla's efforts in advising and in curriculum and program development.
Professor Quintanilla is an honorary alumnus (2005) of TAMS, the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science, and taught the Precalculus/Calculus I sequence to TAMS students for 12 years. He is a member of the TAMS Selection Committee and supervises mathematics placement of incoming TAMS students each summer.