Manhattan College Mathematics Professor Wins 2024 American Mathematical Society Award for Distinguished Public Service
Angel Pineda, Ph.D., was chosen for his tireless work supporting mathematicians in resource- poor environments throughout the world.
Angel Pineda, Ph.D., professor of mathematics, has received the American Mathematical Society (AMS) Award for Distinguished Public Service, a biannual award that recognizes a research mathematician “who has made recent or sustained distinguished contributions to the mathematics profession through public service.” 
According to the citation highlighting Pineda’s work in Cambodia, the award is given “in recognition of his tireless work at the grassroots level supporting mathematicians living in challenged, resource-poor environments around the world and of the impact his example has had on national and international scientific organizations. As a young researcher at Cal State Fullerton, he was one of the first to answer the call issued by the AMS through its 2008 summer chairs letter for help in rebuilding the mathematics community in Cambodia, which had been destroyed in the late 1970s by the Khmer Rouge.”
“I accept the award on behalf of the many mathematicians who give their time and money to support mathematics in developing countries in general, and programs of the CDC (Commission for Developing Countries) in particular," said Pineda. “In every project I have been involved in, I was just one member of a team who did the work. It is all of our work which is being recognized by this award.”
A native of Honduras, Pineda was inspired by his parents’ work as medical doctors in a public hospital.
Pineda is currently the principal investigator (PI) of a research grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and was previously the PI of a National Science Foundation (NSF) mentoring grant for underrepresented students. In 2009 and 2010, he was a volunteer lecturer in Cambodia. He currently serves on the Committee on Graduate Assistantships in Developing Countries (GRAID) of the International Mathematical Union.
He is a member of “Run For GRAID,” a group of mathematicians who fundraise to support mathematics students in developing countries through running races. Pineda said that last May, Manhattan College student Joseph Canavatchel ’25, a mathematics major, participated in a relay race between Rutgers and Princeton to help support the cause.