From Staff Reports

Patrick Bahls, UNC Asheville professor of mathematics, is the seventh recipient of the university’s Community Connectors Award, given by the university’s Key Center for Community Engaged Learning.

Bahls was recognized for his commitment to teaching service-learning courses, leadership of UNCA’s Prison Education Program, research in urban renewal in Asheville, and more.

“Patrick is one of the most engaged, engaging, talented, and visionary members of the UNC Asheville faculty,” said Rick Chess, professor of English at UNCA. “He connects various areas of his academic expertise to real world problems—problems in our own community, state, and nation—and he routinely brings together students and the community to learn more about and work to address some of the most pressing issues of our time.”

Bahls has been instrumental in bringing influential civil rights activists Michelle Alexander, author of "The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness," and Bryan Stevenson, author of "Just Mercy," to campus, each speaking to crows of thousands. Both of these visits were accompanied by community book clubs and learning circles spearheaded by Bahls, including a collaboration between UNCA honors students and Advanced Placement students at Asheville High School.

Bahls is also the director of UNCA’s Prison Education Program, a program that offers credit-bearing courses and other learning opportunities to a cohort of students incarcerated at the Avery-Mitchell Correctional Institute. Bahls was instrumental in securing the grant funding from Laughing Gull Foundation to initiate the program, enlisting faculty to teach in the program, and has served as one of the program’s faculty himself.

On UNCA’s campus, Bahls has taught 18 service-learning courses since 2015, including multiple capstone courses that address pressing social issues, including mass incarceration, racial equity, voter engagement and matters of justice.

“His contribution to the community reflects the best values of our campus,” said Sam Kaplan, chair and professor of mathematics, who noted that Bahls is currently researching urban development impacted equity issues in Asheville. “His work will manifest, I have no doubt, in contributions to reparations efforts of the city, undergraduate research, personal publications, new courses, and broad faculty engagement. His efforts continue to benefit everyone is his sphere and strengthens our campus community.”

Prior recipients of the Community Connectors Award are Ameena Batada, associate professor of health and wellness; Michelle Bettencourt, associate professor of modern languages and literatures; Kathleen Garbe, associate professor of health and wellness; Tiece Ruffin, interim director of Africana studies and associate professor of education; Lyndi Hewitt, associate professor of sociology; and Trey Adcock, director and associate professor of American Indian and indigenous studies.