Sabrina Hessinger

Prof. Hessinger joined Georgia Southern University in 1997 and retired in 2024.

— Biography from the 2024 Fall Commencement program —

Dr. Hessinger earned a BA in Mathematics (1990) from Gannon University and a Ph.D. in Mathematics (1997) from North Carolina State University. She began her professorial career at Armstrong Atlantic State University in 1997. Dr. Hessinger is an excellent teacher who constantly refines her practices to reflect literature-based strategies and to help her students succeed. She believes in a supportive and structured classroom utilizing collaborative learning and metacognitive protocols. As a researcher, Dr. Hessinger’s mathematical scholarship, independently and with student researchers, is based in differential Galois theory. She has successfully written and presented her work related to educational research in mathematics and professional learning communities. Furthermore, as a PI or Co-PI, Dr. Hessinger has been extremely successful in grantsmanship related to activities such as professional learning communities, training, and development of STEM teachers and in increasing support and participation of STEM students. She has been awarded over $10,000,000 in National Science Foundation funding to support the university and the STEM community. Dr. Hessinger is also very active in the community. She has attended and led numerous sessions designed to illustrate the fun and beauty of mathematics with students and teachers at local schools. She founded and led the Alliance for Women in STEM. During her tenure at Armstrong and Georgia Southern, Dr. Hessinger has always stepped forward when work needed to be done. She is the consummate leader with a clear vision on how to move the department and college toward greater accomplishments. In recognition of her extensive contributions in all aspects of university life as well as outstanding teaching, scholarly, and service work throughout her career, Dr. Hessinger is deserving of the title Professor Emerita of Mathematics.*