The following was provided by the California Mathematics Council:

The Walter Denham Memorial Award is an award of appreciation for being an advocate for mathematics education. This person has demonstrated, over an extended period of time, an advocacy for leadership, curriculum, assessment, and quality mathematics education, as well as a broad knowledge and deep beliefs about the myriad of issues related to mathematics education. In addition, this person exhibits many of the following attributes:

• A champion of excellence in the teaching and learning of mathematics,
• Encouragement of rational and critical discussions about issues in mathematics while using accurate and comprehensive data to support a position,
• High respect of others, even those who may have different opinions, and
• Steadfastness in the face of adverse circumstances.

Susie Hakansson is this year's recipient of the Denham Award. Susie has championed mathematics education tenaciously in the face of continuous challenges: political, philosophical, and budgetary. She has built an advocacy network of mathematics organizations and mathematics leaders in California and throughout the country to serve the needs of students, teachers, teacher leaders, and mathematicians.

As the Executive Director of the Mathematics Project since 1999, Susie supports and upholds the quality of the work of each project. She personally visits every project during institutes. As director, she understands the goals of each project, helps to make connections and find resources, and supports in accomplishing goals. She has math project conferences for teachers and teacher leaders to learn how to support English Language Learners. She became an active founding member of TODOS, serves as a member at large on their board, and sets up and works the TODOS booth at many conferences around the country. The mathematics project presently conducts English Language Development Institutes in mathematics content. She has also accepted the challenge of making sure that every student in California has a qualified teacher.

Susie is the glue that connects mathematics leaders and organizations in our state. Her generosity with her time is a gift that we all grow from. She is equally generous with sharing resources and providing endless opportunities to learn and practice leadership skills.