In Memoriam
The Department of Science/Mathematics Education honors the memory of its faculty members who were dedicated to inspiring students, advancing teaching practices and shaping the field.
Dr. Tom Butts
July 5, 1943 – Jan. 26, 2019
Dr. Tom Butts, professor emeritus, was an invaluable member of the Department of Science/Mathematics Education (SME) at The University of Texas at Dallas for over 30 years. Although he officially retired in 2011, he was still active in the SME and the Mathematics Education community for many years thereafter.
Renowned for his problem-solving approach to teaching mathematics, Butts was dedicated to his students, most of whom were training to become mathematics teachers. He was involved in the writing of several textbooks (the first, Problem Solving in Mathematics, and the most recent, Advanced Quantitative Reasoning: Mathematics for the World Around Us) as well as many activities for both students and teachers.
From 1980 until his death, he wrote questions for several national and local mathematics contests. Over the years, he served on numerous committees specializing in educational issues in mathematics. He was even a special mathematics advisor for the crime drama television series Numb3rs.
Dr. Fred Fifer
Dec. 9, 1937 – Nov. 9, 2024
Dr. Fred Fifer, professor emeritus and former head of the Department of Science/Mathematics Education (SME) at The University of Texas at Dallas, helped found the SME department when he was hired in 1974 as a professor of science education.
While at UT Dallas, he authored or co-authored more than 20 books and conducted hundreds of workshops on teaching science. He was a fellow of the Texas Academy of Science. He served as the SME department head for many years. His leadership left an indelible mark on the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program.
Fifer received the UT System Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Teacher (renamed the UT System Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award in 2008) and the Skoog Cup, which the Science Teachers Association of Texas presents to individuals in higher education who have made significant contributions to science education at local, state and national levels throughout their careers.
SME was honored to present Fifer with emeritus status due to his dedication to the department when he retired in 2000. Fifer’s success in training great teachers was due in no small part to his curiosity, creativity, enthusiasm and talent for explaining complicated concepts in simple, relatable ways.