Panel Sessions
- National Assessment Instruments
- Non-Academic Career Paths for Students who Like Math.
- Hosting an AMC Competition: Advice from the Experts!
- Student Summer Programs, Study Abroad Opportunities, and Graduate Fellowships: Who, What, When, Where, and Why?
- Successful Career Transitions
- How to apply for jobs
- A Mathematician Teaches Statistics: Tales from the Front Lines
Poster Session
Workshops
- Workshop 1: Exploding Dots: An Accessible and Interactive Workshop for Middle- and High-School Educators
- Workshop 2: What’s the story? A Graduate Student Workshop on Formulating a Research Presentation for a General Audience
Panel Sessions
- 1. National Assessment Instruments
Friday, 1:00 - 2:20 p.m.
Organizers:- Bonnie Gold, Monmouth University
- Timothy Flood, Pittsburg State University
- Gerald Kruse, Juniata College
- Mary Shepherd, Northwest Missouri State University
- Janine Wittwer, Westminster College
- Committee on Assessment
There are several nationally normed instruments used to assess college-level mathematics learning. One, the Major Field Test (MFT), is used to assess the major; two others, the Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA) and the ETS Proficiency Profile (ETS-PP, formerly MAPP: Measure of Academic Proficiency and Progress), are used to assess general education – not just in mathematics, but overall, but they do have mathematical components. (Another, the Praxis, for pre-service teachers, was discussed by a panel at JMM 2013.) This panel will consist of faculty at institutions that use the test. They will discuss the kinds of questions the test includes, how it is administered at their institution, what kinds of information the institution receives, and how their school has used this information to improve its program.
- 2. Non-Academic Career Paths for Students who Like Math. A Response to the Statement: “I really like math, but I don’t want to teach.”
Friday, 2:35 - 3:55 p.m.
Organizers:- Lisa Marano, West Chester University
- Ben Galluzzo, Shippensburg University
- Jean McGivney-Burelle, University of Hartford
- Ben Baumer, Smith College, former statistician for NY Mets Actuary from Mass Mutual
- Anna Mika, Campus Program Associate from Clean Air-Cool Planet
- an actuary from Mass Mutual
- a representative from ESPN
- CUSAC
It's the bottom of the ninth; bases loaded. The right-handed relief pitcher has already thrown for two innings. At-bat is a lefty batting .295. Is it time to pull the pitcher? Come to this exciting panel to find out! During our panel we will hear from mathematicians from various fields including sports statistics (hopefully you are a Mets fan) and actuarial science. Each panelist will be given the opportunity to describe their non-academic career, then we will open the floor to questions. Be sure you are not left on the bench for this one!
- 3. Hosting an AMC Competition: Advice from the Experts!
Saturday, 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.
Organizers:- Jenna Carpenter, Louisiana Tech University
- Jon Scott, Montgomery College
- Steve Dunbar, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
- Randy Cone, Virginia Military Institute
- Committee on Professional Development
The MAA sponsors the annual American Mathematics Competition for 8th, 10th and 12th grade students. This session will outline how institutions can serve as a regional host site for the AMC, with a focus not only on encouraging students in the area to participate in this event, but to also educate students about career and other opportunities in mathematics at the host institution. Panelists include faculty from successful AMC host institutions, as well as AMC Director Steve Dunbar. There will be a Q&A session at the end, as well as handouts for participants.
- 4. Student Summer Programs, Study Abroad Opportunities, and Graduate Fellowships: Who, What, When, Where, and Why?
Friday, 4:10 - 5:30 p.m., Lecture Hall
Organizer:- Jenna Carpenter, Louisiana Tech University
- Kristina Garrett, St Olaf College
- Stephen Kennedy, Carleton College
- Sean Howe, University of Chicago
- Jenna Carpenter, Louisiana Tech University
- Committee on Professional Development and Committee on Undergraduate Student Activities and Chapters
Myriad opportunities exist for undergraduate and graduate students interested in participating in summer programs, study abroad programs, or pursuing graduate school in the mathematical sciences. This session will provide an overview several different opportunities, as well as best practices on topics such as successful applications and securing funds. Panelists will discuss the NSF Graduate Fellowship Program, the Math in Moscow Program, the Budapest Semester in Mathematics Program, and the Carleton College Summer Mathematics Program for Women. There will be a Q&A session at the end and handouts for participants.
- 5. Successful Career Transitions
Thursday, 1:00 - 2"20p.m.
Organizers:- Jacqueline Jensen, Slippery Rock University
- Magnhild Lien, California State University Northridge
- Maura Mast, University of Massachusetts Boston
- Lynette Boos, Providence College
- Eileen Lee, Math for America
- Connie Leidy, Wesleyan University
- Karen Ricciardi, University of Massachusetts Boston
- Milena Tzigantcheva, State Street Corporation, Boston
- Association for Women in Mathematics
The journey from undergraduate student to graduate student to a career in mathematics involves the navigation of several crucial transition points. This panel will address the common transitions that may be encountered, including the transition from graduate work to a postdoctoral position; the transition from postdoctoral work to employment in an academia, government, or industry; and transition between different types of positions (academic to industry, etc.). Panelists will discuss their experiences and the successful strategies that they used in their transitions, such as finding mentors and role models, negotiating for resources, and understanding key aspects of the job market and culture.
- 6. How to apply for jobs
Thursday, 2:35 - 3:55 p.m.
Organizers:- Estela Gavosto, University of Kansas
- Kristine Roinestad, Georgetown College
- James Freeman, Cornell College
- Joanne Peeples, El Paso Community College
- Kristine Roinestad, Georgetown College
- A mathematician from industry
- Committee on Graduate Students
- Professional Development Committee
- Young Mathematicians Network
This session is aimed at graduate students and recent Ph.D.s. An overview of the employment process will be given with ample opportunity for participants to ask questions. Questions that will be addressed include: How do you find which jobs are available? How do you choose which jobs you want to apply for? What are academic and other employers looking for in the materials that you send? How should you tailor your application material for the job that you are applying to? How do schools conduct interviews?
- 7. A Mathematician Teaches Statistics: Tales from the Front Lines
Thursday, 4:10 - 5:30p.m.
Organizer:- Randall Pruim, Calvin College
- Kimberly Roth, Juniata College
- Iwan Praton, Franklin & Marshal
- Mike Stob, Calvin College
- Jason Shaw, Truman State University
- SIGMAA StatEd and Committee on Professional Development
At many institutions, mathematicians are invited, lured, or coerced into teaching statistics courses. This is especially true at smaller institutions that do not have separate statistics departments, but may also happen at larger institutions where statistics departments struggle to find sufficiently many instructors to teach all of their courses.
Many of these instructors have had little or no formal statistical training, and most have had no prior experience teaching statistics. Come hear from mathematicians who have successfully made the transition to teaching statistics. Find out what lessons they have learned from teaching statistics and get their advice for other mathematicians who find themselves in the same situation.
Poster Session
- Poster Session: PosterFest 2013:A Poster Session of Scholarship by Early Career Mathematicians and Graduate Students
Friday, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Organizer:- Audrey Malagon, Virginia Wesleyan College
- MAA Committee on Early Career Mathematicians
- Young Mathematician's Network
- Graduate Student Committee
This poster session will allow early career mathematicians, including untenured faculty and graduate students, to present and discuss their scholarly activities with other attendees in an informal atmosphere. Examples of scholarly activities suitable for this poster session include expository work, preliminary reports, scholarship of teaching and learning, and research reports. Presenters should have their materials prepared in advance and will be provided with a self-standing, trifold tabletop poster approximately 48 in wide by 36 in high. Proposals should be submitted at http://www.maa.org/mathfest/abstracts.html. Questions regarding this session should be sent to the organizers.
Workshops
- Workshop 1: Exploding Dots: An Accessible and Interactive Workshop for Middle- and High-School Educators
Friday, 9:00 - 7:50 p.m.
Organizer:- James Tanton, MAA Mathematician in Residence
- Council on Outreach
Here is a story that isn't true: When I was a young child I invented a machine (not true) that was nothing more than a series of boxes that could hold dots. And these dots would, upon certain actions, explode. And with this machine, in this non-true story, I realized I could explain true things! In one fell swoop I explained all the mathematics of arithmetic I learnt in grade school (true), all the of the polynomial algebra I was to learn in high-school (true), elements of calculus and number theory I was to learn in both high school and in university (true), and I began to explore unanswered research questions still intriguing mathematicians to this day (also true)!
Let me share this story with you. See how simple and elegant ideas from the regular curriculum connect to elegant and profound ideas in mathematics as a whole. And, other way round, discover from all this new and exciting approaches to bring back into the classroom.
It's win-win all round!
Be sure to bring pencil and paper. This experience will be interactive! - Workshop 2: What’s the story? A Graduate Student Workshop on Formulating a Research Presentation for a General Audience
Thursday, 1:00 - 2:20 p.m.
Organizer:- Rachel Schwell, Central Connecticut State University
- Committee on Graduate Students
- Young Mathematician's Network
Presenting our research to undergraduate students can be both fun and rewarding. It can also be difficult, however, since the gory details of our results often require a great deal of specific jargon and background. Nonetheless, the big ideas can almost always be presented at a variety of levels, and this workshop is designed to help participants develop the skills needed to formulate a presentation on their research that is appropriate for an audience of undergraduate students. Since many colleges and universities require giving such a talk as part of a job interview, almost any graduate student will have the opportunity to do so, and the ability to communicate complex mathematical ideas to students is a valued trait in a candidate. This workshop will consist of hands-on activities and audience interaction aimed toward developing and improving the necessary skills for creating an engaging and accessible presentation for undergraduates.