MCIE Award for Support of Students with Disabilities
Dr. Mark Jacobson
Department Chair and Professor of Mathematics, CLASS
When Dr. Mark Jacobson graduated from high school in Billings, he wanted to work with math at a level that involved more than working problems and taking tests. So, he chose an electrical engineering path.
“I chose that because it was the most difficult mathematically,” he said.
What he found, through advancing his studies and finding even more interesting challenges, that math could be used to do things beyond engineering. He did some work with renowned physicist Dr. David C. Hogg and “wanted to carry that experience forward in teaching and learning.”
Dr. Jacobson’s passion led to research on understanding electromagnetic wave propagation in using GPS signals to measure snow depth, a process that no one in the world had done before. His paper on that topic was published in 2008, and his theories are still being used.
Fast forward today and Dr. Jacobson’s passion is still evident.
The MCIE staff said Dr. Jacobson shows exceptional dedication to supporting students with disabilities by being a thoughtful listener and passionate educator. He continues to “bring math to life by helping students connect mathematics and statistics to real-world applications — an interest he highlights on his faculty page and models in his teaching every day,” his nominators wrote.
Students with disabilities consistently note that Dr. Jacobson takes their accommodations seriously, ensuring that testing needs are met with adequate time, appropriate materials, and a respectful learning environment.
“His commitment to equity, understanding, and student success embodies the spirit of this award,” they said.
As a longtime faculty member and department chair for 11 years, Dr. Jacobson enjoys conveying the love of learning to all students.
“Learn what you can,” he said, “because you never know where it will take you.”