Peter Haskell honored with emeritus status
Peter Haskell, professor of mathematics in the College of Science at Virginia Tech, has been conferred the title of professor emeritus by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.
The emeritus title may be conferred on retired faculty members who are specially recommended to the board by Virginia Tech President Tim Sands in recognition of exemplary service to the university. Nominated individuals who are approved by the board receive a copy of the resolution and a certificate of appreciation.
A member of the Virginia Tech community for 37 years, Haskell made significant contributions to mathematical analysis and topology through his work using tools of algebraic topology and K-theory to develop index theory on singular spaces, research that was consistently supported through three individual National Science Foundation research grants. He disseminated his results in 22 peer-reviewed papers and talks delivered at numerous venues in the U.S. and abroad, including multiple conferences of the American Mathematical Society.
As editor of Index Theory and Operator Algebras, a volume of foundational articles by leaders in the field, he laid the groundwork for research in functional analysis over the following 30 years. Haskell was a patient teacher and doctoral advisor who provided guidance and mentoring to students at all levels and supervised the Ph.D. theses of six students and the M.S. theses of 11 students, all of whom have continued to successful academic or industry careers. His students describe his teaching and mentorship as transformational to their understanding of analysis and their identities as mathematicians and educators.
Haskell served as chair for the Department of Mathematics for 12 years, transforming the department into a highly prolific research unit with pedagogically rigorous teaching practices and a tightly organized and efficient system of governance. In this role, he spearheaded numerous initiatives and programmatic improvements designed to benefit the department, college, and university, while leading a large faculty and student population through multiple changes in state and university leadership as well as national challenges to higher education.
Haskell earned a bachelor’s degree from Harvard and a Ph.D. from Brown University.
