After 33 years of devotion to higher education in Indiana, professor Mir Masoom Ali was given the Sagamore of the Wabash Award, the highest award the Indiana governor can give to a citizen.
"Ball State kept me here. I like the people and the university atmosphere," said Ali, a professor of statistics and mathematical sciences. "I felt I could do anything I wanted to do at Ball State I could do at a bigger school.
"Someone nominated me, and I was awarded this because of my contribution to Ball State and higher education in Indiana."
Though he has been honored for numerous reasons, mostly academic, Ali said he feels this award is the most significant. Past recipients include presidents, astronauts, ambassadors, artists and others who have contributed to the Hoosier heritage.
"I was not born in the United States and did not go to school here, but the governor of Indiana has recognized my work in higher education," Ali said. "That means a great deal to me."
Ali, who was born in Bangladesh, attended the University of Dhaka and received his bachelor of science and masters of science with honors degrees in statistics in 1956 and 1957 respectively.
From there he worked as a statistician for the Bangladesh government for 10 years. Afterward, he went to the University of Toronto to earn a second master's degree in 1967 and Ph.D. in 1969, both in statistics.
But all the honors Ali has received over the years have made him more humble, he said.
"It's a personal honor, but it brings honor to the department, the college and the university," Ali said.
Ali said he credits his teaching awards to his students.
"I take very personal interest in the students," Ali said. "I have a very personal relationship with them and I dream that students would be successful in life."
Because of the recognition from the Sagamore of the Wabash Award, Ali received several e-mails from past students congratulating his success.
"I have students who are very successful in their field," Ali said. "I have students all over the place."
At 66 years old, Ali has no intentions of giving up his teaching career -- at least not yet. When he joined the Ball State staff in 1969, he did not consider teaching, and really did not want to come.
Ali said he does not know how long he plans to stay in education at Ball State. Four or five years perhaps, Ali said, depended on how he feels.
"It will be painful to leave because I enjoy my work so much," Ali said. "I think my students can feel my concern for them. I try to make sure they know what life is. I've been very lucky, my students always enjoy themselves, I always hear nice things.
It's been a wonderful time here, I've seen a lot of change and growth."002,u*Fsagamore professorDNEditorial002SORT*+â-ä2AUDT
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