Professor selected as Methodist University's Distinguished Alumni Award winner

Mary M. Atwater, a professor in the Mary Frances Early College of Education’s department of mathematics, science and social studies education, was recently selected as Methodist University’s Distinguished Alumni Award winner. A ceremony is expected to take place in October.

Atwater received a B.S. in chemistry from Methodist College (now Methodist University) in 1969. As a recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award, she is recognized for her high level of professional achievement and outstanding public service.

“I was pleasantly surprised when I found a letter from President Wearden of Methodist University sharing that I am the 2021-22 Methodist University Distinguished Alumni awardee,” she said. “It is wonderful to be recognized by my alma mater—where I began my path in chemistry.”

At UGA, Atwater’s areas of expertise include multicultural science education, science teacher education, chemical education and college science teaching and learning. She previously received the 2019 Distinguished Contributions to Science Education Through Research Award from the National Association for Research in Science Teaching. Additionally, Atwater was principal investigator or co-principal investigator of several federally funded and privately funded grants totaling over $3.9 million and is the current PI of a National Science Foundation-funded grant titled “Racial Microaggression in Science Education.”