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The Mathematical Association of America (MAA) has honored an 51������ faculty member in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics with its Henry L. Alder Award for Distinguished Teaching, one of the organization’s highest honors recognizing excellence in undergraduate mathematics education. In addition to teaching excellence, the award emphasizes mentoring, undergraduate research and contributions to the mathematics education community, aspects of Ryu’s career she values most.

Ryu was nominated for the award by her colleagues. The nomination process included evidence of teaching effectiveness, mentorship, contributions beyond the classroom and letters from colleagues and former or current students that document the nominee’s impact on undergraduate mathematics education.

“I was so honored to be nominated for the award,” said Ryu, associate professor of mathematics. “I was deeply touched that so many people were willing to invest their time and effort in supporting my nomination. Being nominated also gave me an opportunity to reflect on my journey as an educator and on the many students, colleagues, and mentors who have shaped that journey.”

In the classroom, Ryu strives to create a space for students to actively engage with mathematics through inquiry, collaboration and problem solving. Beyond the classroom, she creates opportunities for students to participate in undergraduate research, engage in interdisciplinary projects that connect mathematics with biology, present at national conferences, publish research and grow into confident mathematicians and scholars.

“This national-level award for distinguished teaching is truly an incredible honor,” Ryu said. “The MAA has been my professional home throughout my career. To be recognized by colleagues whose work I have admired for many years is both humbling and deeply meaningful. More than anything, this award reflects the students, colleagues and mentors who have inspired and supported me along the way.”

To Ryu, the award signifies that teaching is about believing in students, creating opportunities for them to succeed, and helping them discover their own potential.

“I have always tried to create a classroom where students feel comfortable asking questions, taking intellectual risks and learning from mistakes,” Ryu said. “I hope to inspire students to see mathematics as a creative and meaningful discipline. Knowing that the MAA recognizes this philosophy is incredibly meaningful to me, and it encourages me to continue growing as an educator and mentor.”

As an award recipient, Ryu will continue giving back to the mathematical community. This year, she will serve as a Teaching Support Group Facilitator for Project NExT, supporting a new cohort of early-career mathematics faculty. She will also serve on the MAA Euler Book Prize Committee and as secretary of the BIO SIGMAA, the MAA’s Special Interest Group for Mathematical and Computational Biology. She looks forward to giving back to an organization that has had such a profound impact on her career.

“Personally, to be selected for this award is incredibly rewarding because it recognizes the work that brings me the greatest joy—working with students,” Ryu said. “Professionally, it affirms the importance of investing in undergraduate teaching and mentoring. At the same time, while the Alder Award recognizes excellence in teaching, I see it as a celebration of continuous growth rather than perfection. Every meaningful step in my career has been shaped by challenges and the lessons I learned from them. Those experiences have made me a more thoughtful teacher, a better mentor and a more resilient person.”

Throughout her career, Ryu has mentored nearly 40 undergraduate researchers while striving to create an environment where all students, especially women, first-generation college students and international students feel welcomed, supported and confident that they belong in mathematics.

“Watching students develop confidence in themselves and discover what they are capable of has been the most rewarding part of my career,” Ryu said. “One of the things I value most at Elon is the opportunity to know students as individuals and to help them grow both academically and personally. This award recognizes one individual, but it reflects the collective efforts of many people who have supported me throughout my career.”

Ryu joined the MAA as a graduate student. Early in her career she participated in Project NExT, the MAA’s nationally recognized professional development program for new mathematics faculty. The program connected her with a community of educators who encouraged her to think more intentionally about teaching, mentoring and leadership.

“Many of the ideas I use today—inquiry-based learning, creating inclusive classrooms and integrating undergraduate research into teaching—were strengthened through that experience,” Ryu said. “Receiving the Alder Award from the same organization makes this recognition especially meaningful because it feels like coming full circle.”

Ryu was honored with the award at the 2026 MAA MathFest annual meeting in Boston, Massachusetts on August 7. As part of the award ceremony, she will deliver an award address titled “From Outlier to Teacher-Scholar-Mentor: Lessons from Productive Struggle.” The talk reflects Ryu’s personal and professional journey and how challenges, setbacks, and unexpected experiences shaped her teaching philosophy and mentoring approach.

Created in 2003, the Henry L. Alder Award is presented annually to up to three early-career college or university mathematics faculty members in recognition of extraordinary success and effectiveness in undergraduate mathematics education and for an impact that extends beyond their own classrooms.

The MAA is the world’s largest community of mathematicians, students, and enthusiasts.