Retiring COD math professor receives state 'Teaching Excellence Award'

College of DuPage mathematics Professor Robert Cappetta has received the Illinois Mathematics Association of Community Colleges 2016 Teaching Excellence Award.

Cappetta, who began teaching at College of DuPage in 1994, will retire this spring after a 30-year career. He is the seventh person to be selected for this award and was nominated by a colleague, Professor Betsy Kiedaisch.

"The greatest honor that any teacher can have is the ability to play a meaningful part in the lives of so many students. Nothing will ever top that," Cappetta said. "This award from my colleagues at the state level gives me a chance to share my story with a larger audience, and I hope that it can inspire other people."

Cappetta earned a bachelor's degree at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and began teaching math at Lincoln-Way High School, where he also coached football and directed the student play. He earned his master's degree in mathematics at Illinois State University and eventually found himself teaching at South Suburban College for five years before being hired full-time at College of DuPage.

While at COD, Cappetta was encouraged to continue his studies, and he completed a doctorate in mathematical sciences from Northern Illinois University.

"Throughout my career, I have been motivated to become the best teacher that I could be," he said. "That meant that I had to spend a great deal of time studying best practices in teaching and learning. I did this by pursuing doctoral work in mathematics education and I continue to do this by attending conferences, research seminars and by networking with the leaders in the field."

While at College of DuPage, Cappetta has played a leadership role in developing the mathematics curriculum. He also has worked at the state level, reviewing courses for statewide articulation and developing best practices documents, and at the national level by regularly presenting at various conferences teaching and learning strategies in calculus. In retirement, he would like to raise his research profile and support faculty across the country.

"I am a firm believer in the community college movement and I have a responsibility to help as many students as possible," he said. "I have been given so much and I sincerely hope that I will be able to share my talents with students in the future. COD has been a great place to be. After 22 years, I believe that I am 'graduating' from this fine institution. It has helped make me the person I am today."