Kevin W. Hopkins, Ph.D.
Wheeler Science Center 127D
Bolivar, MO 65613
Why do you enjoy teaching at SBU? "Many think that math and faith don't mix much at all. For me, mathematical concepts help me to get a better grasp of concepts of Christianity (an infinite God, the Trinity, how can God be omniscient and omnipresent, etc.). At SBU I can share these relationships where appropriate in class. Working in a community of faith is important to me. Raising my children in the community of Bolivar (a larger community where there is significant faith) is the best place I can think of to raise them."
Courses Taught: Calculus I, II, III; Advanced Calculus; College, Linear and Abstract Algebra; Math Technologies; PreCalculus. In the past he has also taught Discrete Mathematics, Numerical Analysis, Probability and Statistics, and Intro to Computing. In fall 2007 he taught Business Statistics. In 2009-2010 he taught 4 students Calculus II at Bolivar High School, in addition to his typical SBU teaching load. In summer 2011 he will be teaching an online PreCalculus course.
Educational and Professional Background: Hopkins earned a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and Physics from Greenville College in 1983, a Master of Science in 1986 and Ph.D. in 1989 both in Mathematics from the University of Illinois Urbana/Champaign.
Faith Dedications: Dr. Hopkins sings in the adult choir, is a deacon (serving as secretary of the deacon body for many years), serves as coordinator for his Sunday School email newsletter, helps with Youth Handbells, and plays in Adult Handbells. He also worked in 4th-5th grade choir for some time and in Vacation Bible School until his AP Grading (see below) was scheduled at the same time.
Awards: In December 2006 he was given the Faculty Life Beautiful Award. This award, given annually, is among the highest honors that SBU bestows upon a faculty member. Recipients of the Faculty Life Beautiful Award are selected by a University-wide balloting process under the supervision of the Provost, and the balloting involves all eligible faculty. Criteria for the award include "Christlike behavior in family, school, church, and social interactions," "participates actively in worship and service in a body of Christian believers," "exhibits a Christlike lifestyle in his or her personal and daily life." This award was featured in the March 2007 issue of SBU Life.
In April 2007 he was given the Faculty Service Award from the College of Science and Mathematics.
Dr. Hopkins was included in an Faculty Feature in the Fall 2010 SBU Life: http://www.sbuniv.edu/Alumni/SBULife/SBULife_Fall2010.pdf.
Dr. Hopkins was honored by the Missouri Council of Teachers of Mathematics with the 2010 Outstanding Post-Secondary Teacher of the Year Award. Photos from that ceremony are available at http://users.sbuniv.edu/~khopkins/10mctm/index.htm#award.
In May 2011, he was honored with the Parkway Distinguished Professor Award, joining other award winners: http://www.sbuniv.edu/academics/faculty/Parkway/.
Hobbies and Interests: Dr. Hopkins is active in running math contests for students, maintaining a web page about math contests, and coaching students at Bolivar Schools (in 2005 the Middle School group finished 4th at Regional MATHCOUNTS, in 2006 they also finished 4th, and in 2007 they finished SECOND, qualifying for the state MATHCOUNTS competition in March). Those experiences encouraged him to run a Math Contest Camp in summer 2006 which was quite successful and was continued in 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010. He has also taught his son math in 7th and 8th grade after his son took Algebra I in 6th grade. His son was one of four students in the state of Missouri to achieve a perfect score on the AMC-8 exam in November, 2006, for which he was invited to meet with the governor of Missouri in April 2007. Dr. Hopkins participated in a fun estimation golf contest at the MCTM conference in 2004 and won. In May 2008, he assisted with coaching the Missouri ARML team. See http://users.sbuniv.edu/~khopkins/2008arml/ for a "photo story" about his trip there. He coached again in 2009 and 2010.
Other professional involvements are grading AP Calculus tests (in 2002-2008: see pictures and thoughts from 2003, 2005, 2006, and 2007) and participating in syllabus audit for AP Calculus in Spring 2007. He has graded International Baccalaureate exams (May 2006-2010). In January 2011, he began grading some math Praxis exams online. Following a trip to a sample selection meeting in May 2011, he has been promoted to be a scoring leader starting in June 2011.
He has presented at various state conferences and been involved in a few grants (see his resume for more details). He sings (and has even written a few) math songs.
Last modified May 17, 2011.