Virginia was the first mathematics education faculty member hired at Grand Valley, starting in the College of Arts and Sciences in 1966. One of Virginia's lasting legacies is that she was responsible for developing the first mathematics education curricula at the university. Another of her legacies is that she led the development of Communicating in Mathematics (originally MTH 235, now MTH 210), our bridge course to upper-level theoretical mathematics courses. MTH 235 was the mathematics contribution to the new Supplemental Writing Skills (SWS) Program of the College of Arts and Sciences. The SWS program continues to this day at Grand Valley State University, and Communicating in Mathematics is still an integral course in our curriculum.

 

During the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, Virginia was one of the faculty members who became interested in the use of hand-held calculators in the teaching of mathematics. She founded Grand Valley's calculator contest for area students and the Mathematics in Education conferences held on the GVSC campus for area teachers.

 

Virginia received recognition for her teaching and other work. She won the GVSU University Outstanding Teacher Award in 1989. Virginia also received recognition for her Distinguished Contribution to Higher Education from the Association of Governing Boards and Presidents of State Universities and Colleges of Michigan. This board was formed in 1957 to consider problems of higher education common to the membership. The group presented an annual award to distinguished faculty and outstanding students “in recognition of a treasured Michigan resource and the promise it represents for our states’ future.” In the community, Virginia was also elected to the Grand Rapids Art Museum Board of Trustees. Sadly, Virginia passed away in 2018.