Retiring vice president and provost of the Rockville Campus, Dr. Judy Ackerman and her husband Dr. Michael Ackerman recently established an ACES Scholarship to support students majoring in science, technology, engineering, and math. Their scholarship will also support students who decide to teach these important science-based subjects.
The Ackermans have made a life-long commitment to supporting students and fostering greater education in the community—particularly for those students who are too often underrepresented in college classrooms: African American, Hispanic, low income, and first generation students.
In recognition of their generosity and Dr. Judy Ackerman’s record of service to Montgomery College, the Board of Trustees has approved naming the Math/Science Center on the Rockville Campus “The Judy E. Ackerman Math/Science Center.”
Dr. Ackerman has served as vice president and provost of the Rockville Campus since January 2003. Previously, she was a professor of mathematics, collegewide honors coordinator, math center coordinator, chair of mathematics, and the instructional dean of science, engineering and mathematics.
Under her leadership the Rockville Campus has grown significantly, including the major renovations of the Rockville Science Center, which marks the beginning of Montgomery College’s STEM education growth at the Rockville Campus.
Dr. Ackerman is nationally known for her work in community college mathematics education. She has published numerous articles and presents nationally on mathematics related topics, including math anxiety, public school partnerships with community colleges, and gender equity in STEM disciplines. She will retire at the end of the month.
“She’s practically irreplaceable,” said Montgomery College President DeRionne Pollard. “She has made an indelible mark on our institution and she will be sorely, sorely missed.”
Michael J. Ackerman, PhD is the National Library of Medicine’s Assistant Director for High Performance Computing and Communications. He is also Associate Professor in Computer Science at George Washington University and Assistant Professor in the Department of Medical Informatics at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.