UPbeat

News for and about University of Portland faculty and staff.

Mathematics Department

Retirement Party for Carol Bruce, June 20

After 22 years of exemplary cheerful service, Carol Bruce is retiring from her position as office manager and de facto den mother for the mathematics and communication studies office. A farewell party for Carol will take place on Thursday, June 20, from 3 to 5 p.m., in the Pilot House. All are invited to come by and wish Carol well and thank her for all she has done as a faithful University of Portland employee.

For more information contact Andrea Egger, College of Arts & Sciences, at x8310 or egger@up.edu.

Sigma XI Outstanding Researcher Award for Hannah Highlander

Hannah Highlander, mathematics, has been awarded the 11th Annual Sigma Xi Outstanding Researcher Award, given annually by the Columbia-Willamette Chapter of Sigma Xi, the international scientific research honorary society. She will be honored at a ceremony on May 28. College of Arts and Science dean and mathematics faculty member Herbert Medina points out that this is the second consecutive year that a UP mathematics faculty member has won the award (with Aaron Wootton winning kin 2018).

Highlander’s current scholarship lies in the area of mathematical biology. She has 22 peer reviewed scholarly articles spanning a career of 12 years, a rate which rivals those of some of the most productive mathematicians in the United States– while at the same time teaching three classes per semester. Five of these publications include undergraduate authors – almost one quarter of her published articles include collaboration with undergraduates.

Highlander’s work is tied to topics of deep importance to the UP community, including work on mathematical modeling of the Green Dot Bystander Intervention data to prevent sexual assault. Her summer 2019 undergraduate research project, Mathematical Modeling of Suicide Risk and Assessment of Preventative Measures could add considerably to the literature on risk factors of suicide among a vulnerable population. She is also a key contributor to the new Applied Mathematics program (and B.S. in Applied Mathematics major) at UP.

Please join the mathematics department in offering congratulations to Dr. Highlander. For more information contact Stephanie Salomone, mathematics, at salomone@up.edu.

 

Stephanie Salomone: An Outstanding Educator

The Oregon Academy of Science has selected Stephanie Salomone, mathematics, as a winner of the OAS 2019 Outstanding Educator: Higher Education award.

Nominees for this award have a demonstrated record of outstanding teaching in any of the subject areas encompassed by the Academy; nominees are judged on the unique contributions made by the candidate to teaching excellence in higher education science and/or mathematics classrooms.

Salomone will be presented with her award at the 2019 annual meeting of the OAS at Linfield College on Saturday, February 23, at 1 p.m., in Graf Hall 100. Colleagues from UP are invited to attend without registering for the conference but are asked to register if they wish to attend the full conference and lunch.

For more information go to this link or contact abaggett@linfield.edu.

Texas Instruments Leadership Summit, May 29

dede1a copyThe provost’s office, School of Education, mathematics department, and Shiley School of Engineering invite faculty to attend a free conference on campus, the Texas Instruments Leadership Summit: College and Career Readiness in STEM Education, on Friday, May 29, from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., in the Bauccio Commons boardroom. While the summit is oriented towards pre-college, faculty members can easily transfer information to the college level, and may be able to better understand the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) preparation that incoming students bring with them.

Keynote speaker will be Chris Dede (pictured), Timothy E. Wirth Professor in Learning Technologies at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education. Breakfast and lunch will be provided during this half day summit and there is an outstanding speaker line up with both national and local perspectives. Space is limited so please register soon if you plan to attend.

For more information, a conference schedule, and to register, go to http://tinyurl.com/pb56d4e. Also, questions can be directed to Stephanie Salomone, mathematics, at salomone@up.edu.

“This I Believe,” Nov. 19

salomone copyThe Garaventa Center will host “This I Believe: A Conversation about Personal Axioms,” presented by Real Analysis students, on Wednesday, November 19, at 6 p.m., in Franz Hall Holy Cross Lounge. The event is free and open to all. Students in Stephanie Salomone’s Real Analysis class will describe the things that they believe without proof as they read essays written in the format of This I Believe. For more information contact Jamie Powell, Garaventa Center, at 7702 or powell@up.edu.

Math Colloquium, Oct. 8

_1aMath150The next Math Colloquium will be held on Wednesday, October 8, from 4 to 5 p.m., in Franz Hall room 217, according to Carol Bruce, mathematics. The speaker will be Jack Green from Mt. Hood Community College, who will present “From the Classroom to Online and Back Again.” Refreshments will be provided. For more information contact Bruce at 7166 or bruce@up.edu.

Math Colloquium, Sept. 16

_1aMath150The next Math Colloquium will take place on Tuesday, September 16, from 4 to 5 p.m., in Buckley Center room 310, according to Carol Bruce, mathematics. The event will feature a panel discussion on “Graduate School: Applying, Finding, Funding, and Succeeding.” Refreshments will be provided. For more information contact Bruce at 7166 or bruce@up.edu.

Math Colloquium, Jan. 22

KimThe next Math Colloquium will be held on Wednesday, January 22, from 4-5 p.m., in Buckley Center room 209. The speaker will be Albert Kim from Reed College, who will present “A Bayesian model for cluster detection.” Refreshments will be served. For more information contact Carol Bruce, mathematics, at 7166 or bruce@up.edu.