Master Teacher to Join St. Mark’s

It is a pleasure to announce that Dr. Zuming Feng will join the St. Mark’s faculty in the fall of 2021 and hold the Suzanne and Patrick McGee Family Master Teaching Chair in Mathematics. Born and raised in China, Dr. Feng comes to St. Mark’s from Phillips Exeter Academy, where he has served as a teacher, coach, advisor, and dorm leader for the past twenty-six years. 
 
After attending Beijing University, Zuming earned master's and doctoral degrees from Johns Hopkins University, where he was awarded the George E. Owen Fellowship and focused on Algebraic Number Theory and Elliptic Curves. Immediately after earning his Ph.D., Dr. Feng joined the Exeter faculty, where he quickly became immersed in many aspects of campus life. In 2008, he was also the inaugural appointee to the Stephen G. Kurtz Teaching Chair, the first endowed teaching chair in the mathematics department at Exeter. Beyond the classroom, Dr. Feng has coached girls’ soccer, served as an advisor and dorm parent, and been heavily engaged in sponsoring mathematics clubs. He is also the father of two Exeter graduates. 

As a mathematician and independent school educator, Dr. Feng has earned national and international recognition. In 2013, he received the Excellence in Mathematics Olympiad Award by the Romania Mathematical Society. Additionally, he twice received The Edyth May Sliffe Award from the Mathematical Association of America, in 1996 and 2002. He also earned The Junior Faculty Teaching Award, The Brown Teaching Award, and The Dr. Daniel E. Koshland Jr. Distinguished Faculty Award at Exeter. In addition, he has played an important role in the development of curriculum, and served as the leader of the USA delegation to the International Mathematics Olympiad. 

Zuming’s passion for teaching and learning is readily evident, as is his commitment to the holistic development of the students in his care. Well-known for his ability to reach students across the academic spectrum, colleagues describe him as “irreplaceable” and talk extensively about his ability to guide and mentor his charges with great sincerity, compassion, and thoughtfulness. A master teacher in every regard, Zuming will bring exceptional ability, experience, and perspective to our faculty and our community. We look forward to welcoming Dr. Feng to St. Mark’s and know that he will make an important difference in the lives of our boys, in and out of the classroom. 

The Suzanne and Patrick McGee Master Teaching Chair in Mathematics was established in 2010 by Suzanne and Patrick McGee and their sons, Patrick ’11 and William ’12. The Chair was held by legendary teacher J.T. Sutcliffe from its inception until her retirement in 2019, when she was succeeded by veteran St. Mark’s faculty member and holder of the Thomas B. Walker III ’73 Mathematics Department Chair, Joe Milliet.