Department of Mathematics

News

Towson Professor of Mathematics Publishes Important Paper

Philadelphia, PA (April 27, 2012) — At the National Council of Mathematics Teachers (NCTM) Annual Conference, the keynote speaker at the Mathematics Research Session described on of Dr. Sandy Spitzer's papers as one of the 10 most influential mathematics education papers of the last five years. Dr. Spitzer is an assistant professor in the Department of Mathematics and specializes in the role of technology in school mathematics, especially the role that graphing technology can play in learning algebra. She also has a strong interest in pre-service teacher education and has both taught and conducted research in mathematics courses for prospective elementary school teachers.

Department of Mathematics Hosts the 2011 Zassenhaus Group Theory Conference

Towson, MD (May 27–29, 2011) — The Department of Mathematics and the Fisher College of Science and Mathematics at Towson University was pleased to host the 2011 Zassenhaus Group Theory Conference, May 27–29. This was the first time this conference has ever been held in Maryland. It was the off-year specialty meeting in group theory of the larger Ohio State-Denison Mathematics Conference held every two years.

The Ohio-State Denison Mathematics Conference was initiated by Zassenhaus when nearby Denison University made available a large farmhouse. Zassenhaus suggested this house would be an ideal place to do mathematical research and host a conference. The conference attendees soon outgrew the farmhouse and the format changed such that the conference was held every other year at Denison with specialists from group theory, ring theory, number theory and combinatorics presenting papers. In the off years, the specialty groups are to meet in various locations.

Ms. Kimberly Burton-Regulski '98 Receives Presidential Mathematics Teacher Award

Washington, DC (June 7, 2010) — Kimberly Burton-Regulski, mathematics department chair at Eastern Technical High School in Essex and a 1998 graduate from Towson University, is the winner of a 2010 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics Teaching.

President Barack Obama, on Monday, June 7, named Burton-Regulski among 103 recipients of the national award this year. The recognition goes to no more than two educators per state, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Territories, each year.

According to program organizers, the award is the highest recognition that a kindergarten through twelfth–grade mathematics or science teacher may receive for outstanding teaching in the United States. Baltimore County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Joe A. Hairston said "Ms. Burton-Regulski typifies the excellence we strive for throughout our schools in Baltimore County, and we know that her work extends far beyond her classroom. Teachers of her skill and talent help to strengthen our instructional program and develop and retain new teachers. We are proud of Kimberly's achievement; she is deserving of our admiration and our appreciation."

As a Presidential Award winner, Burton-Regulski will receive a citation signed by President Obama, an expenses-paid trip for two to Washington, D.C., for a White House awards ceremony with the President and several days of educational and celebratory activities, gifts from program sponsors from around the country, and a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation. Winners are selected by a panel of distinguished scientists, mathematicians, and educators following an initial selection process at the state level.

(Information courtesy of Baltimore County Public Schools)

Dr. Michael O'Leary Receives $95,000 Grant from the National Institute of Justice

Towson University (September 20, 2009) — The grant is a two year award from the National Institute of Justice to continue the development of new approaches to the geographic profiling problem. The geographic profiling problem is the following: Given the locations of the crimes committed by a serial criminal, what is the best estimate for the location of the home base of the offender. In previous work, we have developed a new mathematical algorithm to solve the problem that accounts for the effects of distance, historical crime patterns, demographic features of the offender (if known), and local population density. The first prototype piece of software is now being used and evaluated by the Los Angeles Police Department and the Baltimore County Police Department. Supported with this new grant, we will continue developing the mathematical algorithms and improving the software.

Joint Mathematics and Geography Proposal Funded by MHEC

Towson University (June, 2009) — The Maryland Higher Education Commission has awarded two College Preparation Intervention Program grants:

• The Geomatics Academy III at Fairmont Heights High School (88,523) to Dr. Linda Cooper, Dr. Ming Tomayko, and Dr. Felice Shore from the Mathematics Department, and Dr. Martin Roberge, Dr. Paporn Thebpanya, and Dr. Virginia Thompson from the Department of Geography and Environmental Planning.
• The Geomatics Academy at Wicomico High School ($19,079) to Dr. Linda Cooper and Dr. Felice Shore from the Mathematics Department and Dr. Martin Roberge from the Department of Geography and Environmental Planning.

Linda Cooper	Ming Tomayko	Felice Shore

CPIP funds support college partnership activities for eligible Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) sites. The Maryland GEAR UP program, supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, is an early intervention program that calls for partnerships to be developed with local education agencies, institutions of higher education, and other community organizations and businesses to encourage more at-risk students from disadvantaged communities to aim higher, study harder, and take the courses required for college admission and success. With these CPIP grants, Towson University has formed partnerships with two high schools: Fairmont Heights High School of Prince Georges County and Wicomico High School of Wicomico County.

The Geomatics Academy is designed to help strengthen students’ understanding of mathematics, promote college awareness, and introduce students to a variety of careers within the environmental sciences through a series of Activity Days. The integration of mathematics, geography, and environmental science is a novel, engaging approach to generate enthusiasm for learning through hands-on, real-life activities that utilize a variety of technologies (graphing calculator, Global Positioning System (GPS), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and spreadsheet software).

Dr. Tatyana Sorokina Receives Educational Advancement Foundation Grant

Austin, Texas (May 20, 2009) — Dr.Tatyana Sorokina, an assistant professor in applied mathematics, was awarded an Educational Advancement Foundation Grant to design a new course in Applied Numerical Analysis. The Educational Advancement Foundation is a philanthropic organization that supports (1) the development and implementation of inquiry-based learning at all educational levels in the United States, particularly in the fields of mathematics and science, and (2) the dissemination of the inquiry-based learning methodology inspired by Dr. R. L. Moore (1882-1974), famed professor of mathematics at The University of Texas at Austin.

Dr. Alexei Kolesnikov is awarded a $75,500 National Science Foundation Research Grant

Towson University (April 27, 2009) — Dr. Alexei Kolesnikov, an assistant professor in pure mathematics, was awarded a prestigious and highly competitive NSF Research Grant in the amount of $75,000. Dr. Kolesnikov's grant proposal is entitled Research in Model Theory: Generalized Amalgamation Properties, and the funding supports his research in this area for the next three summers.

Department of Mathematics
7800 York Road, Room 316 (campus map)
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Phone: 410-704-3091
Fax: 410-704-4149
E-mail: math@towson.edu