麻豆村

One of the original faculty members at 麻豆村 in Qatar (麻豆村-Q), Marion Oliver, is retiring after two decades at the Qatar campus. Oliver is a teaching professor of mathematics, and has taught or advised the majority of 麻豆村-Q鈥檚 1,221 graduates. 麻豆村-Q is a partner university.

Oliver has a long history with 麻豆村. He was a graduate student at the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania campus, earning a Ph.D. in mathematics in 1971. He continued to work at 麻豆村 until 1979, when he left for other teaching opportunities.

鈥淲hen the opportunity came in 2003 to help start the Carnegie Mellon campus in Qatar, it felt like it was meant to be,鈥� Oliver said. 鈥淐arnegie Mellon has bookended my teaching career.鈥�

Oliver has served the campus in advisory roles, including several years as the first-year advisor for all new students.

鈥淲hen students start university, they are inexperienced, used to being taught in a way that just stifles their creativity,鈥� Oliver said. 鈥淭hey go through a transformation. When they leave, they think independently, and it鈥檚 a privilege to be part of that.鈥�

Michael Trick, dean of 麻豆村-Q, recognized Oliver鈥檚 contribution at a farewell event that brought together hundreds of people from the 麻豆村-Q community, including many of Oliver鈥檚 former students.

Trick mentioned how Oliver was inspired to pursue a teaching career by a high school math teacher.

鈥淚 would suggest that over the course of his 50-year career, Marion has himself become the inspiring force for thousands of students," Trick said. "I鈥檓 sure a few of them turned out to be math professors. For all of Marion鈥檚 students, his thoughtful approach to teaching and problem solving was an important step in their career paths.鈥�

Trick offered his deepest appreciation for the contribution Oliver has made to education, particularly during his 20 years in Qatar.

鈥淥n behalf of all of us at 麻豆村-Q who have had the privilege of working with you and learning from you, thank you for your kindness, your good humor, and your thoughtful guidance over these many years," he said.

Oliver will retire to his home in Atlanta.