Mathematics Department Celebrates the Establishment of Piziak Endowed Chair

The Mathematics Department held a special reception on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, to honor Dr. Bob and Veronica Piziak for their remarkable generosity and support of mathematics education. Their recent gift has enabled the creation of the Robert and Veronica K. Piziak Endowed Chair in Mathematics, a lasting contribution that will support excellence in teaching and research for generations to come.

Faculty, students, and university leaders gathered to express their gratitude and celebrate the Piziaks’ legacy. The event featured a presentation highlighting the couple’s life, work, and enduring impact on the university community.

The reception also included remarks from department faculty and university officials, followed by light refreshments.

View the full presentation here.

--Lance Littlejohn

When I was being considered for the chair’s position in our department, I had several meaningful conversations with Bob on various important topics covering departmental tenure policy and potential research directions. I learned the ‘ropes’ from Bob. As chair, he was a strong advocate for the faculty. Stepping into his shoes was no easy task and impossible to replicate – that’s how good Bob was as chair of the department. I also admired the fact that he kept up with his research – no easy task – while running the department. We also observed that Bob always had time to talk to faculty and students.

Usually, when someone retires from the department, it is normal that we only get to see that person occasionally. Not Bob. He would still come to his Baylor office several times per week and work on his research. 

Bob, and his wife Ronnie, have been terrific benefactors to the mathematics department. Almost thirty years ago, they established the Robert and Veronica K. Piziak Mathematics Endowed Scholarship Fund which has helped numerous Baylor students. And recently they announced that they have endowed the Robert and Veronica K. Piziak Endowed Chair in Mathematics. 

Bob has left an indelible mark in the department with his extraordinary leadership, vision, and philanthropy. The department – actually Baylor University - is fortunate to have such a wonderful steward.

--Baxter Johns

Bob was an outstanding faculty member and contributed to Baylor greatly in the areas of teaching, research, and service.  Students really appreciated Bob's dedication and recommended him highly to their friends.  Toward the end of his career one student advised other students not to delay taking Bob's courses because he might retire at any minute, and they would miss out on the best teacher in the Department.

In research Bob found common ground with a number of faculty members and published a number of papers with colleagues.  He was always interested in research topics that others were considering and was willing to take time to discuss various approaches to these problems.

In service Bob was very versatile - he served as chair of the Department, colloquium chair, and premed advisor - all very important and challenging positions - and served in many other areas as well.

Bob was a very nice man.  Here's an example.   The first time Bob taught in summer school he assumed the classes were 80 minutes long whereas they were actually 90.  I was in the classroom right before him and he thought I was going over by 10 minutes every day and thus cutting into his time.  Yet he never said a word (we laughed about it later).  What a nice guy!