Department of Mathematics

News

Department of Mathematics to Host the First International Workshop on Algebraic Geometry and Approximation Theory

Participants at the First Workshop

Towson University (April 11, 2008) — Dr. Tatyana Sorokina of Towson University and Dr. Luis Garcia of Sam Houston State University organized the First International Workshop on Algebraic Geometry and Approximation Theory. This workshop was being sponsored by the Fisher College of Science and Mathematics and the Department of Mathematics at Towson University.

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Joint Mathematics and Geography Proposal Funded by MHEC

Towson University (March 4, 2008) — The Maryland Higher Education Commission has awarded Dr. Linda Cooper and Dr. Ming Tomayko, from the Department of Mathematics, and Dr. Martin Roberge, Dr. Jay Morgan, and Dr. Paporn Thebpanya, from the Department of Geography and Environmental Planning, $63,026 for their College Preparation Intervention Program (CPIP) proposal The Geomatics Academy at Fairmont Heights High School.

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. This CPIP grant is a partnership grant between Towson University and Fairmont Heights High School of Prince Georges County.

The Geomatics Academy is designed to help strengthen students’ understanding of Algebra I / Data Analysis concepts, promote college awareness, and introduce students to a variety of careers within the environmental sciences through a series of Thursday / Saturday 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). Students will connect to their local environment as they collect and analyze data from Beaverdam Creek, a creek within walking distance of their school, and utilize geometric properties of the layout of Washington, D.C. to develop and strengthen understanding of algebra concepts.

Mathematics Students Do Well on Actuarial Exams

Towson University (February 28, 2008) — We are pleased to announce that five of our students in the Actuarial Science and Risk Management concentration successfully passed Exam 1 which is
co-administered by the Society of Actuaries and the Casualty Actuarial Society last week February 21. Passing this nationally competitive exam is a first step to achieving Associateship and Fellowship in the Societies. We congratulate the following students for their hard work: Wenjing Gao, Natasha Gikunju, Dongchen Li, Virginia Newton and Maneesha Ramsamooj. In addition to these five students, we have six January graduates who have passed Exam 1: Lauren Amrhine, Shiden Chen, Patrice Gibbs, Leslie Kleinfelter, Kinjal Patel and Amanda Yao. We also congratulate Rebekah Shahan who has passed Exam 2; and Amanda Yao who also has passed both Exam 2 and Exam 3.

Although the number of students passing the exams is important, it is not the only indicator for assessing our program; however it certainly demonstrates the strength of our program nationally.

Mathematics Education Professors Receive Grant from Mid Atlantic CIO Forum

Towson University (December 10, 2007) — Dr. Todd Moyer, Dr. Gail Kaplan and Dr. R. Michael Krach have been awarded an $8,000 grant from the Mid Atlantic CIO Forum to purchase a TI-Navigator 32 System for the mathematics teachers at Dundalk High School. These three faculty also will provide professional staff development sessions for these teachers.

Three Mathematics Professors Receive Fisher College Excellence Awards

Felice Shore	Houshang Sohrab	Jay Zimmerman

Mathematics Secondary Education Major Is TU's 2007 Homecoming Queen

Towson University (October 17, 2007) — Congratulations to Damitra Jackson who was selected as Towson University's Homecoming Queen for 2007. Damitra is a Math Secondary Education major and will be graduating this May. Damitra is also the President of Kappa Delta Pi, an international honor society in education, and she serves as the student representative on the College of Education Council.

Dr. Michael O'Leary of Towson University is Awarded $300,000 NSF Grant

Towson University (August 25, 2007) — The National Science Foundation has awarded a grant of $299,963 to Towson University for support of the project entitled "A Second Generation Faculty Development Program." This project is under the direction of Mike O'Leary of the Department of Mathematics at Towson University and Claude F. Turner of Bowie State University.

1. A seminar series to introduce security related topics to interested faculty;
2. An information assurance educators forum where more experienced educators can share their experiences teaching information assurance with their colleagues from other institutions;
3. A research mentorship program, where security researchers invite community college and junior faculty to work jointly with them on research problems in security; and
4. An externship program where advanced faculty will work at CERT on joint research projects.

This project will be led by Towson University and run in collaboration with the other members of the Maryland Alliance for Information Security Assurance.

Mathematics Professors Awarded $71,500 Grant from MHEC

Todd Moyer	Gail Kaplan	R. Michael Krach

Towson (June 8, 2007) — Dr. Todd Moyer, Dr. Gail Kaplan and Dr. R. Michael Krach have been awarded a College Preparation and Intervention Program grant from the Maryland Higher Education Commission in the amount of $71,500. The College Preparation Intervention Program (CPIP) funds support college partnership activities for eligible GEAR UP sites. Maryland GEAR UP — Focus on Math, the state's Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs federal grant, 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 young people - especially poor students from poor communities - to aim higher, study harder, and take the courses required for college admission and success. CPIP provides funds for partnerships between higher education institutions and GEAR UP sites to raise the level of academic preparedness of GEAR UP students.

Sarah Kutzberger, a Mathematics Major, Wins a Jess Fisher 4-Year Scholarship

Sarah Kutzberger — 2007 Jess Fisher Scholarship Awardee

Towson University (May 15, 2007) — Sarah Kutzberger, a senior at Baltimore County's Dulaney High School has been awarded a Jess Fisher FCSM Scholarship. This is a full in-state tuition and fee scholarship renewable up to four years. We are very pleased that someone with Sarah's outstanding academic record and strong potential to succeed in college has been chosen for this scholarship! Sarah is interested in secondary mathematics education and is looking forward to her academic career at Towson University, beginning this fall, 2007. Sarah joins Jonathan Graf, last year's (initial) Fisher scholarship awardee, as the second Mathematics Major to be awarded this prestigious scholarship.

Felice Shore is Awarded $97,000 Grant for Improving Middle School Education

Baltimore City (April 18, 2007) — Dr. Felice Shore received a $97,000 grant from the Middle Grades Partnership to continue Towson's partnership with Calverton Middle School.  The project benefits 40+ promising middle school students, and is collaboratively run by Towson University faculty and three teachers from Calverton, as well as several TU students who are hired as interns.  Grant funds provide 7th and 8th graders with a six-week summer program, 5 weeks of which is on TU's campus, as well as year-round, after school enrichment and four Saturday programs for the children and their families.

William "Bill" Rose Receives Award for 35 Years of Dedicated Service

President Robert Caret & Professor Bill Rose

Department of Mathematics
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E-mail: math@towson.edu