Mathematical Association of America

Allegheny Mountain Section

Spring 2019 Meeting
5-6 April, 2019
Shepherd University

Local Organizer

Ralph Wojtowicz

Email:  rwojtowi@shepherd.edu

Phone:   540-539-5146

Meeting Information

Meeting Schedule

Student Talk Schedule and Abstracts of Student Talks (Friday)

Faculty Talk Schedule and Abstracts of Faculty Talks (Saturday)

Invited Speakers

Margaret Robinson, (Mount Holyoke College) 4:00PM-5:00PM, 5 April 2019 Talk Title:   Two Ways to Count Solutions to Polynomial Equations Abstract:  In this talk we will focus on two ways to count solutions to polynomial equations: solutions in finite fields and solutions modulo powers of a prime. For several polynomials, we will consider these cardinalities and show how for each counting method they fit together to form very similar-looking generating functions. The talk will finish with the tantalizing, sometimes frustrating, questions about how these generating functions are related to one another and to the very different-looking zeta functions of Weil and Igusa. Bio:  Margaret Robinson is the Julia and Sarah Ann Adams Professor of Mathematics at Mount Holyoke College. She received her B.A from Bowdoin College and her Ph.D from Johns Hopkins University. Her research interests are in number theory, especially p-adic analysis and local zeta functions. Most recently she has been working with Joshua Holden and Pamela Richardson on understanding the behavior of certain exponential functions that are used in digital signature schemes. Margaret participated regularly in Mount Holyoke's NSF sponsored REU from 1992-2013. Her Department jointly co-authored the book Laboratories in Mathematical Experimentation using materials from the course that had by that time become central to the Mount Holyoke Mathematics major. For three summers, she taught in the Summer Mathematics Program (SMP) at Carleton College. Her experiences working with REU students, teaching the laboratory and SMP classes, have been central to her growth as a math teacher. In 2013, Margaret received the Haimo Award for Distinguished Teaching of Mathematics from the MAA. She served as chair of her department for two terms and as interim chair of the computer science department for one year. She is married with two daughters and loves to hike in the hill country of Western Massachusetts.





Michael Pearson, Executive Director of the MAA 9:00AM-10:00AM, 6 April 2019 Talk Title: Solving Problems: MAA American Mathematics Competitions and Evolving Views of Mathematics Education Abstract: Through its years as the American High School Mathematics Examination and now as the AMC, MAA competitions programs illustrate the evolving views of what constitutes effective mathematical problem solving, as well as identifying and cultivating mathematical talent. We'll take a leisurely tour through more than a half-century of the Association's efforts to advance mathematics through competitions, placed in the context of broader trends in mathematics education. Bio: Michael Pearson received a bachelor's degree from the University of Mississippi in 1980, a master's degree from Mississippi State University in 1982 and a Ph.D. (Harmonic Analysis) from The University of Texas at Austin in 1989. Prior to joining the MAA (in 2002), he served on the faculty at Florida International University (1989-1992) and Mississippi State University (1992-2002). As Executive Director, Michael provides leadership to further the mission of the MAA to advance the mathematical sciences. As a long-time member of the MAA, he is delighted to have the opportunity to work closely with colleagues who share the sense of community and common purpose that he sees as the fundamental strength of the Association.




Gretchen Koch, Federal Government 11:45AM-12:45PM, 6 April 2019 Talk Title:   From Biomathematics to Schedules: My Journey from a Career in Academia to Government Abstract:  In this talk, I will discuss how I went from creating mathematical models of cell division in E. Coli to analyzing the work schedules of air traffic controllers. I will review how my office uses mathematics to determine future staffing needs, and I will discuss how one best prepares for a job in government and industry. Bring your questions! The opinions expressed in this talk are my own and do not represent the opinions or views of the Federal Government, the Department of Transportation, or the Federal Aviation Administration. Bio:  Gretchen Koch-Noble received her bachelor's of science in mathematics with a minor in chemistry from St. Lawrence University in 2001. She went on to receive a master's of science in applied mathematics in 2002 and a PhD in mathematics in 2005 from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She was an assistant professor of mathematics at Goucher College from 2005 to 2012. While at Goucher, she taught a variety of courses, ranging from precalculus to independent studies in creating a mathematical model of human digestion. Her research was in biomathematics, and she developed a pharmacokinetics model and Excel module as part of the BioQUEST Curriculum Consortium. Since 2012, Gretchen has been working as an operations research analyst for the Federal Government. In her daily work, she does everything from developing analysis techniques to writing software requirements to project management. Much of her work has been in developing software tools to create optimal schedules constrained by the size of the workforce and work rules. Gretchen lives in southern Maryland with her husband, Pete, and two children, Matthew and AnnMarie.




Section NExT Workshop: Contact: Kim Roth or John Tolle Registration: deadline to register and get lunch has passed (however, you may still register): sign up here Time: Occurs Saturday, 6 April 2019 (lunch: 1:00PM-1:45PM and workshop 1:45PM-3:45PM) Speaker: Doug Ensley, Shippensburg University Abstract: The MAA Notes Volume 85 (Beyond Lecture: Resources and Pedagogical Techniques for Enhancing the Teaching of Proof-Writing Across the Curriculum) contains a wealth of resources on teaching mathematical proof writing. Our workshop format will blend presentation of select ideas from this volume and sharing of similar ideas from workshop participants. We will pay special attention to in-class, student-centered strategies and techniques, since these are easily adaptable to anyone's course. Note: All MAA Notes volumes are free pdf downloads for MAA members, acquired by clicking Member Library after logging into the MAA.org member portal. Bio: Doug Ensley is co-author of Discrete Mathematics: Mathematical Reasoning and Proof with Puzzles, Patterns, and Games (2005, John Wiley & Sons) and author of several articles on curriculum and pedagogy associated with discrete mathematics and teaching proof. Doug served the MAA as Deputy Executive Director from 2016 to 2018, during which time he oversaw MAA communities such as Sections, SIGMAAs, and Project NExT as well as MAA's alphabet soup of sponsored programs, including PICMath, CoMInDS, StatPREP, Progress through Calculus, NREUP, Tensor, and the Instructional Practices Guide. Doug is currently Professor of Mathematics at Shippensburg University, where he has been on the faculty since 1993.

Registration and Payment

Conference meals information

Lodging Information

Parking

Campus Map

Visitor Information for Shepherdstown, WV

• Antietam Battlefield National Park (about 15 minutes from campus): https://www.nps.gov/anti/index.htm
• Confederate Cemetery: https://civilwartalk.com/threads/elmwood-confederate-cemetery-shepherdstown-west-virginia.127652/
• Harpers Ferry National Park (about 20 minutes from campus): https://www.nps.gov/hafe/index.htm