Dr. Trae Holcomb is the 2025-2026 Piper Professor at Houston Christian University (HCU). The special recognition was announced at the annual Employee End-of-the-Year Awards Program.
As this year’s Piper Professor nominee, Dr. Holcomb will represent HCU in the statewide competition. Recognized for outstanding achievement in teaching and professional development, Dr. Holcomb exemplifies the University’s commitment to academic excellence and student mentorship.
The Minnie Stevens Piper Professor Award is a prestigious annual honor recognizing outstanding college professors in Texas for exceptional teaching and dedication to students. Established in 1958 by the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation, the award includes a cash prize and is considered one of the highest academic teaching honors in the state.
“Our University nominee joins a small group of colleagues on our campus who have been recognized over the years for their exceptional contributions as teachers, scholars, mentors and faithful members of the community,” said Dr. Stanley Napper, HCU Provost & Vice President of Academic Affairs.
Dr. Holcomb serves as Professor of Mathematics and Chair of the Department of Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics in HCU’s College of Science and Engineering. His teaching philosophy emphasizes active student engagement and participation in mathematics, and his academic specialization is commutative algebra with a focus on numerical semigroups.
Prior to joining HCU, Dr. Holcomb taught mathematics at the U.S. Air Force Academy for nearly a decade. He earned his PhD in Mathematics from Texas A&M University, a master’s degree in Applied Mathematics from University of Colorado Colorado Springs, and a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Texas State University.
An accomplished scholar, Dr. Holcomb has published research in Communications in Algebra and Semigroup Forum , as well as pedagogical work in PRIMUS. He is also a member of the American Mathematical Society. In 2012, he received the U.S. Air Force Academy’s Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Award for a project recognized for its potential impact and broader application.
Dr. Holcomb was congratulated for this well-deserved honor and commended for the meaningful impact he continues to make in the lives of students and colleagues alike.