Richard Pineau

Faculty Profile

Associate Professor - Teaching
ao8242@wayne.edu

Department

Mathematics

Secondary Title

Member, Academic Senate; Member, WSU Academy of Teachers; STA 1020 Course Coordinator

Phone

313-577-2479

Fax

313-577-7596

Office

Room 1249, Faculty/Administration Building

Biography

Short bio

Richard Pineau is an associate professor of teaching in the department of mathematics and is in his 12th year on faculty. He teaches courses primarily at the undergraduate level and was an adjunct instructor for FYS 1010 (Learning with the Brain in Mind). Recognized for his teaching, Mr. Pineau was inducted into the WSU Academy of Teachers in 2020 and served as the group's chair for the 2021-2022 academic year. He was elected vice chair for AY 2022-2023. In April 2021, he was the recipient of both the General Education Teaching Award and the President's Award for Excellence in Teaching. He also served as a Student Success Faculty Fellow for the 2022-2023 academic year. He is a member of numerous committees which include the Academic Senate, course coordinator for elementary statistics, former chair of his department's mathematics mentoring program, and chair of the Senate's ad hoc subcommittee for artificial intelligence (AI), among others which center on student success initiatives and mentoring. Mr. Pineau is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Educational Studies with a focus on mentoring and support for STEM graduate teaching assistants in teaching.

Long bio

Richard Pineau has been active at Wayne State University since coming here for his undergraduate work in mathematics and secondary education in the fall of 2003. He is a first-generation college student. His journey into education did not really take hold until he participated in the Wayne State University Math Corps Summer Camp in the summer of 2004. In the subsequent years, he worked each summer as a college instructor, learning how to work with and manage students, but more importantly how to care about them and their success. Upon graduating in 2009, Richard was hired as the Assistant Program Coordinator and two years later, was named interim program coordinator. During those four years of full time work, he created a series of operations manuals, significantly improved the efficiency of the program, and mentored many students both in the program and here at Wayne State. Additionally, Richard obtained his Master's in Applied Mathematics and audited several more math classes after completion of the degree. He also holds a Master's of Public Administration with a Graduate Certificate in Economic Development. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Educational Studies with a concentration in STEM. 

In the fall of 2013, Richard transitioned into a faculty role as a lecturer in the mathematics department. In August 2018, he was promoted to senior lecturer. With the ratification of the AAUP-AFT contract in September 2021, Richard was transitioned to the Associate Professor of Teaching rank, based on his years of service. Richard has been recognized for his teaching with induction into the Wayne State Academy of Teachers in August 2020, and being awarded the President's Award for Excellence in Teaching in April 2021. He is the first faculty member from the mathematics department to earn WSU's two highest teaching awards. Additionally, he was recognized as part of the first cohort to be given a General Education Teaching Award for his contributions to the General Education Program and his efforts towards inclusivity and diversity in the classroom. 

Richard has been active in many committees, serving his department, college and the university. A few notable assignments are listed below. 

Department

  • Graduate teaching assistant (GTA) Mentor since fall 2014
  • Elementary Statistics (STA 1020) course coordinator (Sept. 2015 - Dec. 2016, May 2021-present). In his first run in the position, he worked to standardize the course and write a common final. He also chaired a committee which selected a new textbook and courseware site. At present, he works to set-up the course each term, write the comprehensive final exam, and mentor instructors. 
  • Elected to Department Salary Committee (2015-2018, 2020-2022, 2024)
  • Elected to Department Personnel Committee as a first-ever consultant for teaching faculty promotions (2023-2024)
  • Founding chair of our department's Marketing & Outreach Committee (Sept. 2017 - May 2022). We have worked to put together a department Facebook & Twitter page, program information flyers, visited area schools for recruitment, and have worked on compiling a department history and innovative marketing ideas
  • Founding chair of the Mathemaitcs Department Mentoring Program (August 2021 - August 2024). This program pairs undergraduates with industry mentors and is a partnership between our department and WSU's Development Office. 

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS)

  • C.L.A.S. Representative on the Academic Senate (member of Curriculum & Instruction Subcommittee) Sept. 2017 - present
  • Appointed to the C.L.A.S. Dean Search Advisory Committee (2017 - 2018 academic year)

University

  • Chair, Academic Senate ad hoc Subcommittee for Artificial Intelligence (AI) Cheating, February 2023 - present. Richard completed the AI Academy (October 2023) and received a certificate in AI teaching from Course Hero. He has presented his exeprience to various groups around campus and helped set a direction for how AI should be considered with things like policy and curriculum. 
  • Coach for the Mandela Washington Young African Leaders Institute Fellowship, Summer 2022. Richard worked with Fellow Daniel Worku on his goal of establishing a career services center in his home country of Ethiopia. Richard repeated his role as a coach with Fellow Merapelo Lechaena on her goal of expanding literacy in Botswana. 
  • Chair, Wayne State University Academy of Teachers (AoT), August 2021 – August 2022. Facilitate meetings, introduce a new organizational structure with workgroups, advance overall teaching mission of WSU.
  • Vice Chair, Wayne State University Academy of Teachers (Aot), August 2022 - August 2023. 
  • Academic Senate Subcommittee on Revision of the Academic Misconduct Provisions to the Student Code of Conduct, Jan. 2021- Sept. 2021. Appointed as a rep. of the Curriculum & Instruction Committee of the Senate, Richard worked to offer revisions to the code of conduct to allow for a faculty voice in the overall process. He also created a Canvas module on academic integrity that was disseminated to the university community
  • President, WSU Gamma Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa - the nation's oldest honors society, August 2021 – present
  • Integrated Learning Environment Advisory Council, May 2021 – present. This committee is a merger of the Classroom Improvement CORE Group and Technology Committee. This council is a cross-college and cross-departmental group consisting of faculty from each school and college and administrators in areas that are involved with learning environments on campus. The focus is on collaboration and communication about the Digital and Physical Classrooms
  • COVID-19 Restart Committee: Human Resources Subcommittee (May 2020 - Sept. 2020). He served on the Policies, Procedures, & Regulatory Requirements Workgroup (reviewed and suggested updates to university policies related to working remotely) and on the Student & Temporary Employment Workgroup (created a handbook for a university-wide internship program). He was appointed by the Academic Senate's Policy Committee. 
  • Inclusive Access Pilot Committee (June 2020 - Aug. 2021). The committee oversees the trial run of a program where students obtain access to course materials on the first day of classes. He was appointed by the Academic Senate's Policy Committee
  • State Hall Design and Renovation Advisory Committee (Nov. 2020 - Aug. 2023). As a faculty representative, Richard provides input in the design considerations for classrooms and space in the renovation project for State Hall. He was appointed by the Academic Senate's Policy Committee. 
  • In collaboration with CAPS Director Jeff Kuentzel, he produced two brochures on recognizing mental distress for dissemination to university community (sent via Provost on 2/15/2021)

AAUP-AFT Local 6075 (Union)

  • Vice Chair of the Lecturer Steering Committee (May 2018 - May 2020)
  • Chair, Outreach Subcommittee (Nov. 2019 - May 2020)

In addition to teaching, he was also very active at his church, St. Pio of Pietrelcina Catholic Church. He served (July 2013 - July 2020) as (founding) President of the Parish Council and have held several appointments on other committees in the parish. Additionally, he spearheaded a project to create a guidebook for Parish Mergers (part of the Archdiocese's restructuring efforts) that was presented to the Archbishop in October 2016. 

He is an avid Star Wars fan and Detroit sports fan. He enjoys fishing, biking, WWII history, and building with LEGO.

Education

  • Ph.D., Educational Studies, concentration in STEM, Wayne State University, Sept. 2019-present
  • Certification in Teaching with AI, Course Hero’s AI Academy (October 2023)
  • M.P.A., Wayne State University, 2016
  • Graduate Certificate, Economic Development, Wayne State University, 2016
  • M.A. in Applied Mathematics, Wayne State University, 2011
  • B.A. (Magna Cum Laude) in Mathematics & Secondary Teaching Certificate, Wayne State University, 2009

News mentions

Selected publications

Non-refereed journals

  • Pineau, R., The View from Here: What Goes Around Comes Around, Math Horizons, Vol. 20 (2012)
  • Pineau, R., Prime Reciprocal Periodicity, Math Horizons, Vol. 19 (2012)
  • Pineau, R., Prime Reciprocal Periodicity, Math Horizons, Vol. 19 (2011)

Other qualifications directly relevant to courses taught

 August 2019, completed the CITI Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Course

Research Description

Mathematics Education

Affiliated Departments