The Department of Mathematics at UC Irvine has received a $2.5 million gift to establish the “UCI Excellence in Teaching Chair in Mathematics,” a faculty position dedicated to helping create a new generation of highly-skilled California public school science and mathematics teachers.

The new chair will be charged with recruiting and then training top research mathematicians who can serve as instructors and mentors to future K-12 teachers. The gift from the California Community Foundation is the largest ever received by UCI to establish an endowed chair.

“Such a generous and farsighted gift empowers a research university to take a leadership role in the preparation of mathematics teachers for California’s public schools,” said Ronald J. Stern, dean of the School of Physical Sciences. The energetic mix of research mathematicians educating and inspiring our public school teachers will be a key component for California to regain a leadership role in the science and math preparation of its future workforce.”

The gift will enhance the “California Teach” initiative recently unveiled by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the University of California, California State University and business leaders. The largest of its kind in the nation, the initiative is aimed at raising the caliber of K-12 education by increasing the state’s number of skilled and highly qualified science and math teachers. By 2010, the University of California hopes to quadruple its annual production of credentialed science and mathematics teachers from 250 to 1,000 per year.

UCI is in the initial phase of launching a nationwide recruitment and hopes to identify a high-profile faculty member who will occupy the chair by the summer of 2006. This chair will join the company of UCI’s current endowed chair holders, which includes such distinguished scholars and researchers as Nobel Prize-winning chemist F. Sherwood Rowland, National Medal of Science recipient Francisco Ayala, renowned microbiologist Masayasu Nomura, business and economic policy expert Richard McKenzie, and recognized choreographer Donald McKayle.

About UCI’s Department of Mathematics and School of Physical Sciences: UCI’s Department of Mathematics was established in 1964 by Bernard Gelbaum and is part of the School of Physical Sciences – home to UCI Nobel Laureates F. Sherwood Rowland (chemistry) and Frederick Reines (physics). The school offers educational and research opportunities for tomorrow’s bio-tech and scientific work forces through the departments of Chemistry, Earth System Science, Mathematics and Physics & Astronomy. With more than 1,100 undergraduate and graduate students, the school is one of the nation’s largest producers of bachelor’s degree-level graduates.

About the California Community Foundation: Established in 1915, the California Community Foundation is one of the largest and most active philanthropic organizations in Southern California, with assets of more than $750 million. In partnership with its donors, the foundation supports nonprofit organizations and public institutions with funds for health and human services, affordable housing, early childhood education, community arts and culture, and other areas of need.

About the University of California, Irvine: Celebrating 40 years of innovation, the University of California, Irvine is a top-ranked public university dedicated to research, scholarship and community service. Founded in 1965, UCI is among the fastest-growing University of California campuses, with more than 24,000 undergraduate and graduate students and about 1,400 faculty members. The second-largest employer in dynamic Orange County, UCI contributes an annual economic impact of $3 billion. For more UCI news, visit www.today.uci.edu.