“A teacher needs to engage and communicate with students from a variety of backgrounds and skill levels and find an appropriate balance between challenging and supporting them....I have found that the journals create an environment in which students are more willing to ask questions or seek my advice later in the semester.”

Barry McQuarrie teaches math courses that demand the highest degree of rigor, yet he has a rare ability to explain concepts in such a way that all can come to understand their beauty. One student declares, “I can finally say that I’ve had a math class I enjoyed.” Another recalls, “I learned that I don’t have to be afraid of calculus.” Yet another student observes that McQuarrie is “by no means an easy teacher, but...possibly the best I’ve had.”

McQuarrie has pioneered the use of computer-generated animation to illustrate difficult concepts and has also incorporated the use of journaling in his math classes--”a brilliant idea,” says one colleague. It is just one example of what another colleague points to as McQuarrie’s “extraordinarily thoughtful approach to course design.”

His research spans physics, chemistry, and mathematics, and he frequently exposes students to work in areas that may spark a research project or career interest. McQuarrie works closely with undergraduates on senior seminars and in directed study. One former mentee recalls, “He was always willing to interrupt what he was doing to talk...he was approachable and kind-hearted.”

McQuarrie also is a campus leader in developing programs to ensure academic success for students who are at risk. He helped revise UMM’s academic integrity policy, virtually rewriting the old policy from scratch, and worked “tirelessly” as chair of the scholastic committee. All of his work stems from what a colleague calls “his compassion and devotion to our students’ best interests.”

Visit the Barry R. McQuarrie faculty Web page here.