Ann Esther Watkins, 2001-2002 MAA President

Predecessor	Ann Esther Watkins	Successor
Thomas Banchoff		Ronald Graham

Ann Esther Watkins is a professor of mathematics at California State University, Northridge, with interests in statistics and education.

Presidency: 2001-2002

In October 2001, the JSTOR board of directors approved the addition of the College Mathematics Journal and Mathematics Magazine to its archive.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded the MAA a grant to hold a March 14-16, 2002, meeting for Principal Investigators of NSF-funded undergraduate mathematics education projects, as well as a grant for a project to improve assessment of undergraduate mathematics education, Supporting Assessment in Undergraduate Mathematics.

Catalan's Conjecture, which dates back to 1844 and states that 8 and 9 are the only two consecutive powers, was proved in April 2002 by Preda Mihailescu.

The joint AMS-MAA meetings in San Diego in 2002 hosted the first onsite reception for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Mathematicians and friends. Watkins attended and gave words of welcome and support.

Watkins wrote "A Year in the Life of the MAA: The Statistics" (pdf) at the end of her term as president.

Education and Career

Watkins has served as editor of the College Mathematics Journal (1989-93) and associate editor of the American Mathematical Monthly. She is a Fellow of the American Statistical Association. She has coauthored three textbooks on statistics, the Quantitative Literacy Project of the American Statistical Association and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and the Core-Plus Mathematics Project. She chaired the Advanced Placement Statistics Development Committee from 1997 to 1999.

External Resources

Faculty website at California State University, Northridge