Patricia (Trish) Byers, a mathematics professor in the Engineering Technology department, has earned a Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) in Education from York University.

Dr. Byers successfully defended her dissertation on Jan. 12.

She earned a Master of Arts (Mathematics Education) in 2003 (York), a Bachelor of Arts (Mathematics) in 1998 (York), and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1976 (University of Toronto).

She joined Georgian in 1979 as a nursing teacher, continuing in Nursing until 1996-97 when she turned her studies toward mathematics.

In 1998, she received the Board of Governors’ Professional Development Award.

Dr. Byers’ doctoral research thesis investigated trigonometric representations as a source of difficulty for students transitioning from secondary to college technical mathematics.

Her research, teaching, curriculum development and leadership roles have had a positive impact on mathematics education across Georgian and Ontario.