UConn’s ranking climbed in U.S. News & World Report’s list of the country’s best mathematics graduate programs, a sign of the University’s growing reputation as a center of excellence in mathematics education and research.

In the 2022 list, UConn’s Mathematics Graduate Program is ranked #40 among public universities and #66 overall. The rankings are based on surveys sent to mathematicians around the country, and as such are a reflection of national reputation.

Department head, Professor Ambar Sengupta, attributes the improvement to hard work over the past several years. “Our faculty have been conducting really stellar research, publishing in top international journals, getting appointed to world renown editorial boards, and securing competitive grants. We have also worked diligently to improve our standing and visibility. We have become an institutional supporter of the MSRI. And the number of meetings and summer schools organized by our faculty and postdocs has never been greater. This excellence reflects on the quality of our graduate program and other educational offerings.”

In other good news, the department’s Actuarial Science program was ranked #1 in the country in the most recent UNL Global Research Rankings of Actuarial Science and Risk Management & Insurance.

“I want to thank every member of the department – professional staff, the entire faculty, and our graduate students – for these achievements,” added Professor Sengupta. “It really is a team effort. And it makes UConn Math an exciting place to work at.”

Professor Fabiana Cardetti (Co-PI) with other members of the program team organized the inaugural event for the NSF funded Connecticut Noyce Math Teacher Leaders (MTL) program which was hosted this past Saturday March 19th at the Connecticut Association of Schools in Cheshire, CT.

The five-year program is a partnership between the Department of Mathematics, the Neag School of Education, and the Connecticut State Department of Education designed to build capacity for math teacher leadership across Connecticut. The event marked the official start of the program with a celebration for the cohort of 20 secondary math teachers, MTL Fellows, who are embarking in the five-year program.

The kickoff event featured welcoming remarks by Guest Speakers, including Charlene Russell-Tucker, Commissioner of Connecticut Department of Education; Jason Irizarry, Dean of Neag School of Education; Ambar Sengupta, Head of Department of Mathematics; and Georgina Rivera Vice President for the National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics. A Keynote address was given by Steve Leinwand, Math Education Change Agent, principal researcher at AIR, and experienced leader in mathematics education.

The Department of Mathematics is excited to be a part of this innovative initiative, expanding mathematics teacher leadership and supporting equitable access to high-quality mathematics education for all students.

Congratulations MTL Fellows!

(photo credits/Shawn Kornegay)

We are delighted to announce that Vasilis Chousionis has been named the new Makuch Faculty Fellow (January 2022-December 2023). This fellowship was instituted through a generous donation by UConn Math alum Robert Makuch.

We are pleased to introduce Nathaniel Abbott, who joins our Department as Educational Program Manager.

Please join us in welcoming him aboard!

To get to know Nathaniel a bit better, we asked him a few questions.

Where are you from?

I’m originally from Ohio. My family moved around a lot when I was a kid so I don’t call any specific state home (but I do consider Tennessee my favorite). In no specific order, I have lived in Ohio, Alabama, North Carolina, New Jersey, Texas, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Connecticut. While I do prefer the southern culture, I see myself in Connecticut for the foreseeable future because I love what I do here at UConn.

Where did you go to school?

I received my B.S. from Southern Adventist University in Film Production with an emphasis in business. I had originally been enthralled with the entertainment industry and worked on television commercials and promotional content before realizing I wanted more than it could offer. So I decided to obtain my M.A. in Organizational Leadership from Concordia University Chicago and have been working towards my goal of program manager ever since.

How long have you worked at UConn?

I started working at UConn in March 2020 while still living in Alabama. I moved here in June during Connecticut’s lockdown which was quite the transition. But I have been working in the business and educational industries for the past 13 years.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

General free time is enjoyed on the couch with my dog, Renly, reading a good Mitch Rapp or Jack Reacher novel—perhaps even watching Westworld season 1 for the 10th time. I also appreciate the satisfaction I get from my home improvement projects. My vacations generally consists of going south to Alabama to visit family or the Smokey Mountains which is my go-to spot. There’s nothing like Gatlinburg, TN in the northeast but I certainly enjoy the nearby rural mountainous area and am still looking for a favorite weekend camp site.

What do you look forward to in this new position?

I always look forward to the challenge. Doing a great job in support of an office and department requires commitment to both self and team. It’s quite the balancing act because work is interesting, challenging, and always changing—it’s definitely not for everyone. You certainly benefit from discipline, relationship building, and openness to learning, as they are intrinsic to the profession. While there may be cyclical tasks, the majority of duties vary, as do the people you assist, in an evermoving live pattern that makes no day exactly the same. And while sometimes the day-to-day pressures with deadlines looming and random department requests may stack up to make a normal person go crazy, that’s where the balancing act and love for the job shines because I’m excited to be a part of something that isn’t just a “business-as-usual” role.

 

We are very saddened to have to report that our colleague Mark Naigles passed away yesterday, December 30, 2021. The news comes as a great shock to those of us who have been working with him closely and for all who have known him for years. Mark taught for the Math Department as adjunct faculty for many years and this year came on board as full-time faculty.

Mark was known for his passion for teaching and for the warmth of his personality. Many of us will have memories to share, which we plan to post on our website. From Department Head Ambar Sengupta: “I had extensive conversations with Mark well before coming to UConn and he was kind enough to send me a lot of helpful information about the area. Earlier this month I ran into Mark in a near-empty Monteith building, and we had a pleasant chat. He was thinking of writing a song for an event we talked about.”

Mark, you will be deeply missed!

A memorial service open to all (masks required) will be held for Mark on Sunday, January 2nd, 1pm, at UConn Hillel (54 North Eagleville Road).

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Professor Emeritus Patrick Joseph McKenna. Joe passed away December 29, 2021. It was a shock for those of us who have been in touch with him recently. He attended a grad panel in the department on November 19th and shared some advice for our students.

Joe received his PhD from the University of Michigan in 1976. After appointments at the University of Wyoming and at the University of Florida, he joined UConn in 1986 as full Professor and served on our faculty until 2018. Joe’s research was mostly in the area of partial differential equations. MathSciNet lists 115 publications by Joe, with over 2,500 citations. At UConn he advised 14 PhD students. He was a popular teacher and won the MAA Northeastern Section Teaching Award in 2004. Over the years he influenced many students. Talitha Washington’s article in the Notices of the AMS has a photo of Joe and some of her memories of the department from her time here.

We are grateful to have known Joe and to have had the chance of enjoying his company. His memory will be with all who came to know him. A memorial service might take place in the future when there are no pandemic restrictions.