Dr. Anant Godbole
Godbole leads Center of Excellence in Mathematics and Science Education
JOHNSON CITY – East Tennessee State University’s Center of Excellence in Mathematics and Science Education has a new executive director. But he is not new to ETSU.
Dr. Anant Godbole, who has taught and conducted research in mathematics at ETSU since 2000, took over as center director Aug. 1, replacing Dr. Jack Rhoton, who has now retired. Meanwhile, Godbole continues to teach a course in calculus-based probability and statistics at ETSU.
“It was a good transition,” said Godbole, who also served for 11 years as chair of the Department of Mathematics. “This should happen in every job. Jack stayed around for a month after I took the job, so I was able to learn from him. He is ‘Mr. Science Education’ in Tennessee.”
The Center of Excellence provides professional development for mathematics and science teachers at all levels, with the ultimate purpose of improving student achievement. Godbole says one of his goals as director is to bring more National Science Foundation funding to the center, while maintaining significant funding through the State Department of Education and the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.
The center, which was created in 2005, serves as the Hub for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education (STEM) in Northeast Tennessee. The hub interconnects K-12 schools, higher education institutions, businesses, foundations and community organizations to design, develop and demonstrate STEM learning experiences.
Godbole said the STEM partnerships and collaborations seek to engage students, develop a skilled workforce, and increase STEM literacy in the 15 school districts in the Northeast Tennessee region and throughout Tennessee.
Among the other projects coordinated by the center are Eastman Chemical Company’s Mathletes Program, a similar program developed in partnership with the Niswonger Foundation, the Upper East Tennessee Science Fair, and the annual Governor’s School for Scientific Models and Data Analysis.
Before coming to ETSU, Godbole was associate dean of the College of Sciences and Arts at Michigan Technological University. He earned a baccalaureate degree from the University of Bombay in India and master's and doctoral degrees in statistics and probability from Michigan State University.