This year The New Jersey Section was invited to nominate one of its members to be the recipient of the prestigious MAA Certificate of Meritorious Service for contributions to the MAA at the national or sectional level. The section nomination was approved at the Board of Governors Meeting at Mathfest99 in Providence, RI. This award will be presented to Sister M. Stephanie Sloyan, R.S.M., at the Joint Mathematics Meetings, January 2000, in Washington, DC. The Nominating Committee forwarded the following citation to the MAA.
The New Jersey Section of the Mathematical Association of America has selected Sister M. Stephanie Sloyan, R.S.M., Professor Emerita of Mathematics, Georgian Court College, Lakewood, New Jersey, as the recipient of The Mathematical Association of America Certificate of Meritorious Service in recognition of her many years of leadership and dedication to the MAA.
A familiar face at national and section meetings, Sister Stephanie is well known for her commitment to the goals of the MAA. A member of the MAA since 1952, and one of the founders of the New Jersey Section (1956), she has served the MAA in many capacities: Section Vice-Chair for Speakers, Chair-Elect, Chair (1985-87), Past Chair, Governor (1988-1991), member of the MAA Committee on Sections and numerous N.J. Section committees. In 1991, she became the first recipient of the MAA-NJ Section Distinguished Teaching Award and has since served as Chair of the Selection Committee for this award. Sister Stephanie has been a role model for women who aspire to a career in mathematics. She was responsible for the formation of the Pi Mu Epsilon Chapter and the MAA Student Chapter at Georgian Court College. Sister Stephanie has always actively encouraged her colleagues and students to attend MAA-NJ Section meetings. In 1996, she made a presentation of the history of the New Jersey Section at the 40th anniversary meeting. She has hosted several section meetings and will host yet again this spring at Georgian Court.
Sr. Stephanie Sloyan holds an A.B. degree (1945) with a major in Natural Sciences and a minor in Mathematics from Georgian Court College, an M.A. (1949) and a Ph.D. (1952) both in Mathematics from the Catholic University of America. She has been a faculty member at Georgian Court College since joining the Department of Mathematics in 1952. Following a term as President (1968-74), she returned to the Department as chairperson until 1996. During her years as chair, she established a Master's Degree program in Mathematics and a minor in Computer Science.
Whatever her specific office in the Mathematical Association of America, Sister Stephanie has always been ready to give guidance and assistance to others. The New Jersey Section is very pleased to nominate Sister Stephanie for the Meritorious Service award and is grateful for her many years of invaluable service.
Recipients of MAA Certificate of Meritorious ServiceSelection Committee for the MAA Certificate of Meritorious Service
1985 Emory Starke, Rutgers University
1990 Henry O Pollak, Bell Labs
1995 Theresa C. Michnowicz, New Jersey City University
2000 Sr. M Stephanie Sloyan, Georgian Court College