Dr. Jigar S. Patel is a Professor of Instruction in The University of Texas at Dallas’s Department of Mathematical Sciences within the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. He earned his Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in Applied Mathematics from The University of Texas at Dallas and his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Pure Mathematics, along with a B.Ed. degree, from Gujarat University in Ahmedabad, India. Dr. Patel’s research interests span mathematics education, peer-assisted learning models, machine learning, numerical solutions of partial differential equations, and optimization. With more than two decades of teaching experience in various upper and lower-level math courses, he has provided academic leadership in coordinating large multi-section courses, ensuring instructional consistency, fostering faculty collaboration, and improving student success across more than 1,300 students annually. As the faculty liaison for Peer-Led Team Learning (PLTL) in Applied Calculus I and II, Dr. Patel champions collaborative, student-centered learning environments that enhance conceptual understanding and engagement. Prior to his current role, he served as a Senior Lecturer II at UT Dallas from 2011 to 2017 and as a Clinical Assistant Professor at the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences at New York University from 2017 to 2019, where he developed and implemented Learning Groups (an adaptation of the PLTL model) for Algebra and Calculus courses. An active contributor to statewide Open Educational Resources (OER) initiatives and author, Dr. Patel is dedicated to advancing accessible and affordable mathematics education. He received the UT Dallas President's Teaching Excellence Award in 2016.