Dr. David Poole

David G. Poole was born in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia. He received a B.Sc. (Hon.) from Acadia University and an M.Sc. and Ph.D. from McMaster University. After a year teaching at Brandon University, he joined Trent’s Mathematics Department in 1984 where he remained a member until his retirement in 2016. He is currently Professor Emeritus at Trent. 

Professor Poole has been recognized with numerous teaching awards: Trent University's Symons Award for Excellence in Teaching (the university's top teaching award), three merit awards for teaching excellence, a 2002 Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations Teaching Award (the top university teaching award in the province), a 2003 3M Teaching Fellowship (the top university teaching award in Canada, sponsored by 3M Canada Ltd.), a 2007 Leadership in Faculty Teaching Award from the province of Ontario, and the Canadian Mathematical Society's 2009 Excellence in Teaching Award. His research interests are in algebra, discrete mathematics, and mathematics education. Outside of Trent, he has conducted math enrichment courses for Peterborough elementary and high school students. His hobbies include cooking and constructing crossword puzzles, and he is an avid film buff. 

Prof. Poole served as chair of Trent’s Mathematics Department on three occasions, and from 2002-2007 he was Associate Dean of Arts and Science (Teaching & Learning). His dedication to high quality teaching extends to policy development: Prof. Poole has been involved with teaching committees, task forces on mathematics education, and he has produced reports on teaching and learning approaches. His textbook Linear Algebra: A Modern Introduction is currently in its fourth edition and has been translated into four languages. It is widely used at colleges and universities around the world. For his services to mathematics education in Canada, Prof. Poole was named a Fellow of the Canadian Mathematical Society in 2018.