Thomas DeFranco

Director of Teacher Education
Associate Professor, Cognition & Instruction Associate Professor, Mathematics

Dr. DeFranco recieved his B.S. from SUNY at New Paltz, his M.S. from Seton Hall University and his
Ph.D. from New York University. He joined the faculty at the University of Connecticut in 1991.

Dr. DeFranco's teaching achievements go well beyond his own teaching, they reflect a commitment to promoting excellence across the university. His implementation and design of new courses emphasize the techniques and creative thinking that characterizes mathematics, rather than specific mathmatic topics. His courses also create a model for improving instruction and often reflect his area of expertise, problem solving. Dr. DeFranco believes that students construct knoweldge from their current understanding, as well as the context of that knoweldge, and this drives his notable achievements. Although his numerous awards, grants and publications indicate his success, perhaps the strongest indicator is the description of him, by both his colleagues and students, as a "vibrant and effective teacher who is commited and engaged in thoughtful study of his teaching."

University Teaching Fellow, 01-02
Thomas DeFranco, Ph.D
Director of Teacher Education Associate Professor, Cognition & Instruction Associate Professor, Mathematics Dr. DeFranco recieved his B.S. from SUNY at New Paltz, his M.S. from Seton Hall University and his Ph.D. from New York University. He joined the faculty at the University of Connecticut in 1991. Dr. DeFranco's teaching achievements go well beyond his own teaching, they reflect a commitment to promoting excellence across the university. His implementation and design of new courses emphasize the techniques and creative thinking that characterizes mathematics, rather than specific mathmatic topics. His courses also create a model for improving instruction and often reflect his area of expertise, problem solving. Dr. DeFranco believes that students construct knoweldge from their current understanding, as well as the context of that knoweldge, and this drives his notable achievements. Although his numerous awards, grants and publications indicate his success, perhaps the strongest indicator is the description of him, by both his colleagues and students, as a "vibrant and effective teacher who is commited and engaged in thoughtful study of his teaching."	Read the article from the UConn Advance newspaper: "Tom DeFranco: A Passion for Teaching and a Passion for Math", by John Wray