Marvin L. Bittinger Department of Mathematics and Computer Science

A generous donation from Marvin ’63 and Elaine Sailors ’64 Bittinger has provided an endowment fund that helps support such things as student learning, research and faculty development, and the department has been named the Marvin L. Bittinger Department of Mathematics and Computer Science. 

Elaine is a retired elementary school teacher. Marv was a longtime mathematics professor at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis and earned his master’s degree from Ohio State University and his Ph.D. from Purdue. In addition to teaching thousands of college-level mathematics students in the classroom, he has written more than 200 textbooks ranging in topics from developmental mathematics to algebra to calculus.

“I have had enough struggles with math to identify with students who have problems,” Marv once said about why he is an effective teacher. His older son, Lowell Bittinger ’92, has noted how much satisfaction Marv has found in helping others. “Dad always emphasized the value of a good education and working hard to pursue what you want to do in life.”

The Bittingers have long been generous donors to Manchester, establishing the Thurmyle Gosnell Memorial Scholarship Fund named for Marv’s beloved aunt who graduated from MU in 1941. Marv also served on the Board of Trustees from 1992 to 1997 and received the Alumni Honor Award in 2010.