Retirements: For Sergiu Aizicovici’s students, the difference was magical lectures, professional passion

Dr. Sergiu Aizicovici developed a passion for mathematics in middle school, so choosing math as his college major was an easy decision—a decision that led to a 31-year career in the Mathematics Department at Ohio University.

His passion for math never waned, and his time in Athens adds up to many student and alumni lives touched—with magical lectures and chalk holders—and a significant research contribution.

Aizicovici joined Ohio University in fall 1989 as a tenure-track associate professor and was promoted to full professor with tenure in 1993. He retired with the title of professor emeritus.

Aizicovici touched many lives through his teaching and mentoring at OHIO, and he still keeps in touch with four of his six Ph.D. students, including two who are now full professors.

“I am so lucky that I took your classes and I must tell you that your lectures were magical ... There were two particular problems in our qualifying exam which were done in your lecture notes, and we could answer them perfectly, but for other students, they were the most challenging ones,” said a student now in a Ph.D. program.

Another student says the magic was in Aizicovici’s chalk, not just his lectures. “Kindly, could you please give me your ‘chalk holder’ that you used in class! I know there is no magic in it, but I need it to remember you and keep it forever. The main reason behind that is I have learned a lot of good things from you as a prof and as a person … I am trying to change my way of teaching and follow your way.”

Read more about Aizicovici’s “31 wonderful years” at OHIO on the College of Arts and Sciences Forum.