Rena Brakebill, School of Mathematics, Georgia Tech
Rena came to Georgia Tech from Thailand and received three degrees here. In 1975, she received a Bachelor of Engineering Science & Mechanics Degree, followed in 1977 by a Master's degree in the same field. In 1981, she earned an M.S. in Applied Mathematics. She has worked since Fall 1982 as an instructor in the School of Mathematics. In that capacity, Rena has taught more introductory mathematics courses than she probably cares to remember. As Assistant Undergraduate Coordinator, Rena has overseen the scheduling of mathematics courses, and for many years supervised the School's award-winning TA development program as the TA coordinator.
Rena has also been very active on campus and is known to almost everyone in the administration and many, many students as well. She has served on myriad committees relating to administrative software, course scheduling, and classroom technology. Georgia Tech will probably need 10 people to replace her in those roles. She has also been a major asset to the organizers of the High School Math Competition since the modern competition began in 2004.
Rena has received a number of other awards over the years. In 2001, she received the College of Sciences Faculty of the Year Award from the Georgia Tech Interfraternity and Panellenic Councils. In 2002, she received the ANAK Faculty of the Year Award. In 2003, the Presidents' Council of Georgia Tech's student organizations recognized her with the "Go the Extra Mile" Award. The 1998 and 2004 Undergraduate Student Government Faculty of the Year Awards were also presented to Rena. As of February 2009, Rena was the only individual to receive this annual award twice.