Fred Howard Guestbook

I hope to meet more like Professor Howard in my own career as a mathematician. It is people like him who make this profession respectable.

— Adam Cross
May 13, 2009 - 11:56 PM

I majored in Math (Class of '80), not because I was particularly terrific at it, but because I really loved it. Dr. Howard was my favorite professor and spent countless hours with me after class explaining concepts that I had difficulty with. He is a true TEACHER in every sense of the word. I am disappointed that my son, who will be a freshman at Wake this fall, will not have the opportunity to be a student of Dr. Howard. My God bless you in your new career!

— Carol Stanley Stefany
May 13, 2009 - 08:30 AM

Dr. Howard is the reason that I majored in math, and the reason that I went into education. During my freshman year, I was lucky enough to have him for both fall and spring semesters of Calculus. After my spring Calculus exam, he informed me that I had earned the highest score that semester on the exam....and had I ever considered majoring in math? No other question posed to me in my life has had such resonance and such an impact on my life.

I took every class that he taught. He was a gifted and caring teacher - he knew his stuff and he knew how to convey understanding of each concept to his students. One summer, I did an independent course under his tutelage on the 3 color problem. His approach to this course was that I would teach *him* all about the three color problem. There was one point that I really was grappling in comprehending, but it was my time to present that section and I decided to try and bluff my way through. While going through this one portion, he posed a question which then lead me to make the connection...to "get" it....and it made all the difference.

I remember his smile, his laugh, his understanding of people. As an undergraduate I would often go to just talk with him about my classes and any particular issues that I was having. He would *always* listen with great care and provide meaningful feedback -- the kind that makes you know that he understands and has compassion, but is also willing to share another perspective on the situation that would provide greater clarity and insight.

I am grateful that our friendship has continued all of these years. Dr. Howard will *always* have a very dear and special place in my heart.

— Tammy Pausch Mason '81
May 12, 2009 - 05:26 PM