John B. Garnett

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“A teacher affected eternity,” wrote Henry Brooks Adams in The Education of Henry Adams. “He can never tell where his influence stops.” In the case of John Garnett, however, the success of his students is a measure of his. Professor Garnett, who earned his Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Washington in 1966, has the remarkable distinction of having at least six of his UCLA graduate students appointed to named instructorships at prestigious universities. One other was awarded the coveted Salem Prize, and in 1987, two others won NSF postdoctoral fellowships. Such achievement is possible only for an instructor with a gift for teaching and a reputation for accessibility, and in the 21 years he has been on the UCLA faculty, Professor Garnett has demonstrated both. He also runs weekly seminars for faculty and students and has given some 83 spontaneous research talks for graduate students.

Garnett’s own scholarship is reflected in nearly 20 invited lectures, including the address at the 1986 International Congress of Mathematicians. He is also the author of a book considered the definitive research-level monograph in its field. Clearly, Professor Garnett, who is also the recipient of the 1989 Award for Distinction in Graduate Teaching, has come up with the perfect equation for successful teaching: personal achievement, respect for his students and the firm desire to help them fulfill their ultimate potential.