Project NExT

80 Strong

The Red'15 cohort of
Project NExT fellows.
Disseminating Innovative Teaching Strategies

Lindsay-Kay Lauderdale (Gold'14) learning how to use Play-Do in Vector Calculus.
Promoting Inclusive Excellence

Alicia Prieto Langarica (left) and Carmen Wright (Brown'13 dots) contributing to a MathFest discussion on diversity.
Winning Awards

Red dot (1994) and former Associate Director of Project NExT, Judith Covington, accepting a 2015 Haimo Award.
Producing Leaders

Incoming MAA President and Blue dot (1996) Francis Su.

Project NExT (New Experiences in Teaching) is a professional development program for new or recent Ph.D.s in the mathematical sciences. It addresses all aspects of an academic career: improving the teaching and learning of mathematics, engaging in research and scholarship, finding exciting and interesting service opportunities, and participating in professional activities. It also provides the participants with a network of peers and mentors as they assume these responsibilities. Since 1994, over 1600 Fellows have appeared in all capacities in the academic mathematical profession, including many leadership positions at their home institutions and in the MAA.

The Project NExT program

Each cohort of Project NExT Fellows will participate in:

A three-day Project NExT Workshop in late July / early August, preceeding MathFest (the summer meetings of the MAA).
Project NExT sessions during MathFest.
Special events at the Joint Mathematics Meetings the following January.
A one-day Project NExT Workshop preceding MathFest (and more during MathFest) the following year.
An electronic network that links Project NExT Fellows with one another and with seasoned mathematicians and award-winning teachers.

At these workshops and other Project NExT sessions throughout the year, Fellows will explore and discuss issues that are of special relevance to beginning faculty, such as:

Innovative approaches to a variety of introductory and advanced courses;
Using writing to help students learn mathematics;
Attracting and retaining students from under-represented groups;
Involving undergraduates in mathematical research;
Preparing future K-12 teachers of mathematics;
Writing grant proposals; and
Balancing teaching and research.

Project-NExT Fellows during a workshop session.
Gold'14 dots during workshop

Outcomes

Project NExT Fellows have been awarded teaching awards at their institutions, in their MAA Sections, and nationally. At least 9 Alder and 5 Haimo awards (national MAA teaching awards) have been won by Project NExT Fellows. They have won awards for written exposition (at least 11 MAA awards for exposition in MAA articles), and been invited speakers at national meetings. They have served as governors of their Sections (at least 8) and in numerous other capacities in their Sections, including running Section NExTs. The incoming president of the MAA, Francis Su, is a Project NExT Fellow. Learn more about our Fellows.

History of Project NExT

Christine Stevens (St. Louis University) and Jim Leitzel founded Project NExT in 1994 and directed it until Jim Leitzel's death in 1998, after which Christine Stevens directed the program until 2009. Aparna Higgins (University of Dayton), who had served in the leadership team since 1998, then took over as director. Over the years, the leadership team has also included Judith Covington (Louisiana State University in Shreveport, 1997-2014), Gavin LaRose (University of Michigan, 1997-2012), Joe Gallian (University of Minnesota Duluth, 1998-2012), and Steve Schlicker (Grand Valley State University, 2012-2014).

The current leadership team is composed of

David Kung, Director, St. Mary's College of Maryland (since 2014)
Julie Barnes, Associate Director, Western Carolina University (on the team since 2010)
Alissa Crans, Associate Director, Loyola Marymount University (since 2014)
Matt DeLong, Associate Director, Taylor University (since 2012)
Anthony Tongen, Assistant Director, James Madison University (since 2014)

How to become a Project NExT fellow

If you are about to start or recently started a job teaching college-level mathematics, you might be eligible to join the next NExT cohort! For details about eligibility, cost, and how to apply, please see the applications page. Most questions are answered on that page or in the FAQ section.

Project-NExT Team.
Project NExT Leadership Team

Timeline

For each Project NExT Fellow, the timeline looks about like this (give or take a few days):

April 15th: applications due
June 1st: acceptance letters sent
July 1st: listserve for all new Fellows goes live
Late July/Early August: travel to MathFest location, three days before the larger conference begins
October: each Fellow is assigned a consultant as a mentor
January: travel to Joint Math Meetings
Late July/Early August: travel to MathFest location, one day before the larger conference begins, graduate as a Project NExT Fellow!

Afterwards, Project NExT Fellows continue to participate in the program in many ways: through their listserve, organizing events, attending Project NExT events at MathFest & the Joint Meetings, and (eventually) returning to participate in programs for future "dots."

Support Project NExT

Want to ensure that the next generation of college students experiences the type of engaging, energizing, and informative mathematics experience that makes them want to continue in STEM fields? Join the many organizations below and help us make that dream a reality: Support Project NExT.

Major funding for Project NExT is provided by the Mary P. Dolciani Halloran Foundation, the Educational Advancement Foundation, the American Mathematical Society, the American Statistical Association, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the American Institute of Mathematics, the Association for Symbolic Logic, the W. H. Freeman Publishing Company, and individuals and sections of the Mathematical Association of America.

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Project NExT

80 Strong

Disseminating Innovative Teaching Strategies

Promoting Inclusive Excellence

Winning Awards