The Annual Majors Fair was held Thursday, October 3, 2019 from 12:30-3:00 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom. Students in attendance were able to learn more about our math programs and visit with faculty members, Dr. Garth Johnson and Ms. Hailey Hurley. This was a great opportunity for the department to visit with prospective majors and answer any questions they had about their program and career goals.
I am originally from the Chicago area and then taught middle and high school math in Houston, Texas. Most recently, I am coming from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. I moved here with my husband, son, and two dogs. We are excited to be here in Arkansas where we can regularly take out our kayaks or bikes and go explore. I enjoy hiking, baking, reading, and crafting.
Currently I am teaching courses in elementary math content for future elementary school teachers as well as a graduate course in our M.A. program. In the coming semesters, I will also be teaching courses in the STEMTeach program with our secondary math preservice teachers. I enjoy teaching courses to future and current teachers about what it means for students to engage in mathematics and how we as teachers can facilitate that learning.
Grounded in my experience as a teacher, my research is concerned with how math teachers notice and engage with students’ mathematical thinking. Specifically, I am interested in how teachers notice students’ mathematical thinking and their subsequent use of that thinking in their instructional choices. This research extends to a general interest in teacher education through both university-based teacher preparation programs and practicing teachers. I work with supporting preservice teachers to hone their ability to notice students’ mathematical thinking as well as in professional development settings where I collaborate with practicing teachers to support noticing of our students’ thinking in classrooms.
As the facilitator in classrooms where students are actively engaging with mathematics, it is challenging to understand and act on students’ thinking in-the-moment. It takes being able to recognize the math concepts that students are using as well as interpreting what they might be thinking through their work or conversations. My research has identified ways to support elementary preservice teachers in increasing their ability to notice students’ thinking by using video clips to “practice” noticing along with increasing their content knowledge.
While there are many things that I have enjoyed about being at UCA, I think I have liked working with the students the most. I have found the students to be engaged, self-motivated, and a joy to work with. I enjoy being a part of preservice teachers’ journeys as they realize that they can work towards becoming exceptional math teachers.
With local education often being quite state-dependent, it has been a challenge to move from out of state and quickly get up to speed with the math education landscape here in Arkansas. Along with that, familiarizing myself with the various programs, licenses, and such has been an adjustment.
Danny Arrigo earned his PhD from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1991. He has been on staff in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Central Arkansas since 1999 and is currently Professor of Mathematics. He has published over 30 journal articles and three books. His research interests include the construction of exact solutions of PDEs and symmetry analysis of nonlinear PDEs. His research is also active regarding solutions to physically important equations, such as nonlinear heat equations, governing equations modeling granular materials, and nonlinear elasticity. Dr. Arrigo received the Oklahoma-Arkansas Section of the Mathematical Association of America’s Award for Distinguished Teaching of College or University Mathematics in 2008. In that same year, he was awarded UCA’s award for excellence in Research, Scholarship, and Creativity. In 2011 he was a finalist for UCA’s Teaching Excellence Award and won that award in 2019.
Dr. Arrigo integrates his research into his teaching and vice versa. He has worked with many students while at UCA; more than 30 of his undergraduate students have presented their work at regional and national conferences, where several have been recognized with awards. In addition, Dr. Arrigo has mentored 10 graduate student theses with two currently underway.
1. Please tell us a little about yourself?
I am a product of UCA! I was an undergraduate student here from 2009-2013, and then a graduate teaching assistant from 2014-2016. I have been teaching at the high school level for 3 years, but I have been teaching for 6 years total. I got married in November 2017 and we currently live in Maumelle, Arkansas. I am addicted to traveling – 12 countries and counting! I bake – get ready for a bunch of cakes and stuff in the break room. I love Harry Potter and Game of Thrones, so I’m up for a discussion on that any time. And I love board games, especially Settlers of Catan!
I would like to teach calculus-focused courses, but I also enjoy teaching courses such as College Algebra, Quantitative Literacy, and Trigonometry.
My teaching philosophy is that anyone can learn math, even if they are not very passionate about the subject. My job as an educator is to help students realize their potential and give them the proper tools and support to reach their goals. If students have a hard time understanding a problem, I try to think of 3 or 4 new ways to explain or approach the problem. It’s all about meeting students where they are at, and bringing them up to the level where they need to be.
My favorite part of transitioning back to UCA is being able to see all my old professors and be in my old classrooms again. UCA feels like home to me, so it was really easy to come back and be part of it all again!
The most challenging part is remembering that I am a faculty member now, and that I am not a student (or grad student). Mostly I have to remember to call my fellow colleagues by their first names, because it seems strange to be so informal!
I hope to pursue a PhD at some point. I don’t have those plans figured out yet, but I can foresee that I will pursue something like that in the future.
The Department of Mathematics is pleased to announce the new Richard and Teri Jackson Scholarship for students majoring in mathematics, particularly the first-generation college students. Preference will be given to women. The scholarship was funded by a UCA Math alumnus Ms. Tara Burton, currently COO of FedEx Employees Credit Association in Memphis. The recipient of the scholarship should be an Arkansas resident with preference given to a graduate of Wynne High School. The scholarship will be awarded in two equal installment on the dates of registration for the first and second semesters of the academic year. For more information about the scholarship, please contact the Chair of the Department of Mathematics at 501-450-3614 or the UCA Foundation at 501-450-5288.
This fall Dr. Yinlin Dong joined the mathematics department as an assistant professor in applied mathematics. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Arlington.
(1) Please tell us a little about yourself.
I did my undergraduate in China, where I worked in industry for two years. After that I came to the States and have been at the University of Alabama, University of Central Florida, and the University of Texas at Arlington. I live with my wife and two sons, Charles and Allen, and am now excited to join the family here at UCA!
(2) Tell us a little about your research.
I study numerical methods and grid generation. For example, there are methods for discretizing partial differential equations and solving them numerically. This discretization requires working on a grid of some sort, and I study how these grids should be constructed. A good grid allows solution methods to adapt to complex structures: the grid is fine in regions of large variation to enhance accuracy, but can be coarse where the solution has little variation in order to achieve efficiency.
(3) Can you give us an example of an application of this research?
One great example is in airfoils. NASA designs many of these, and they need to determine exactly how to shape them. In order to find the best shape, they need to solve physics problems and use numerical methods. My research applies to identifying the appropriate numerical method and corresponding grid generation approach to these problems.
(4) When did you become interested in your research?
Throughout school I knew I was going to focus on some kind of science or math. I had a particular high school teacher that really helped inspire me; ultimately it was my Ph.D. advisor that helped guide me into the field of numerical methods.
(5) Tell us about the courses you teach.
I teach both numerical analysis and numerical methods. Though sometimes confused with each other, numerical analysis is more theoretical and focuses on why methods work, while numerical methods focuses more on how such methods work. Right now being my first semester I’ve tried to keep my courses straightforward. In the future I hope to be able to get students involved more in projects and presentations.
(6) What is your favorite part of your position here at UCA?
Teaching is one of the best parts! I enjoy the moments of sharing the beauty of math with students. The environment here is quite flexible, and I’m still exploring the surrounding area.
(7) What is the most challenging part of your position here at UCA?
I have high expectation in student learning in upper level courses. But some students do not turn in assignments on time and are reluctant to ask questions. How do they expect to learn without putting their skills to practice? I am learning our students and our course settings. I will figure it out as the semester goes.
This fall Dr. Todd Abel joined the mathematics department as an assistant professor in mathematics education. He received his Ph.D. from the University of New Hampshire.
(1) Please tell us a little about yourself
I’m from North Carolina and recently spent time at Appalachian State University before coming to my new home here at the University of Central Arkansas. My wife and three kids have been getting settled over the past few months and have really enjoyed the outdoor life in Arkansas. We’ve gotten to camp, hike, and float already and look forward to continuing to explore.
(2) Tell us a little about your research interests.
My research focuses on two areas. One is on the classroom implementation of mathematical modeling, and the other focuses on mathematical digital literacy: how to use digital tools for doing mathematics. Both of these are important topics for us to consider because the ways students use math is changing – it is essential to have creative and flexible thinking. And with many available tools, students need to be able to recognize what tools are useful for solving problems.
(3) Tell us about the courses you teach.
Right now I’m teaching three courses. Foundations of Mathematics is a graduate class for our M.A. program, which is targeted at preservice and inservice teachers. We look at mathematical reasoning, logic, set theory, number theory, the nature or mathematical work, and have a particular emphasis on what proofs are and how they work.
The undergraduate courses I’m teaching are History of Math, which covers a broad spectrum of topics from throughout time, and Project-Based Instruction. The latter course I am co-teaching with a faculty member from the STEMTeach program. This is a course in which students gain field experience in local schools before their fulltime internship.
(4) What is your favorite part of your position here at UCA?
I really enjoy facilitating students engaging with challenging math problems. It’s great to see students encounter meaningful problems to overcome and to watch them grow as they take on tougher and tougher challenges.
(5) What is the most challenging part of your position here at UCA?
There are a lot of programs and structures to learn, so figuring out what all the policies and procedures are has definitely been the most challenging part so far.
(6) Who has influenced your most in your life?
My family – my parents, brother, sister, and now my wife and kids. My parents taught me to appreciate learning; my teachers and Ph.D. advisor, Dr. Karen Graham, also influenced me professionally by helping guide me through my schooling and into my career.
(7) How do you like to spend your free time?
When not here I’m with my family at home, at church or somewhere in the woods.
Thirteen applied mathematics majors , two pure mathematics majors, and a graduate student in MS Applied mathematics received their degrees at the 2017 Spring Commencement. Among the undergraduate majors, three received teacher certification through UCA’s STEM Teach Program. Congratulations to all. Not all graduates are seen in the picture shown below.
2017 O. L. Hughes Award Cyrus Koch, a BS STEMteach Pure Mathematics student received the 2017 O.L. Hughes Award. The award is annually presented to an outstanding senior mathematics major 
based on their math achievement, GPA, and leadership. It is given in memory of late Professor O.L. Hughes, who was the chair of the Math Department at UCA from 1945 to 1967. Cyrus will graduate at the 2017 Spring Commencement. Cyrus has accepted a teaching position at North Garland High School in Garland, TX and will also be assistant coach for the school’s competitive math team. He plans to attend UT-Dallas to work on a MS in pure mathematics so that he can be involved in teaching and curriculum development for the school’s ultra fast-track math program.
2017 Dorothy Long Award Andrea Weaver, a BS STEMteach Applied Mathematics student received the 2017 Dorothy Long Award, annually presented to an outstanding female junior. 
The award is given in honor of late Professor Dorothy Long, who was a mathematics faculty member and the Dean of Women at UCA in the 60’s. Andrea received a Noyce Scholarship last year and presented “Nonlinear Elliptical PDEs” at the 2017 AMS/MAA Joint Mathematics Meeting. She attended the 2017 Oklahoma-Arkansas MAA Section Meeting and participated in the Math Jeopardy Contest. Also, Andrea is a recipient of a SURF grant and will begin research on “Nonclassical Symmetries of Dispersion Equations,” this summer with Dr. Danny Arrigo.
2017 Outstanding Graduate Student Award Katie Burden, an MA Mathematics Education student, received the 2017 Outstanding Graduate Student Award by the unanimous recommendation of the 
Department of Mathematics faculty. She has worked in collaboration with Dr. Jason Martin on her thesis “Case Studies of Virtual Manipulative and Static Derivative Images” and presented her research at the 2017 Oklahoma-Arkansas MAA Section Meeting. Beginning in fall 2017, Katie will teach at Little Rock Central High School.
A paper co-authored by Ms. Kaiyi Chen (a former masters’ student at UCA in applied mathematics), Dr. Ling He (Carmichael Professor Finance), and Dr. R. B. Lenin (Associate Professor of Mathematics) has been accepted for publication in the Journal of Risk Finance. The paper is based on Chen’s thesis “Time Variation Paths of Risk Sensitivities of Bank Stocks in Past Two Decades.” Dr. Lenin was the principle thesis advisor.
This paper incorporates the Flexible Least Squares (FLS) approach with a free statistical computing and graphics software R to estimate the three-factor model developed by He and Reichert in 2003 to trace time variation paths in risk sensitivities of bank stock returns during 1990-2014, one of the most serious financial crises period in the U.S. history. The results of the paper show that interest rate sensitivity of bank stock returns coincides with the dramatic changes in the bond market. It was significantly positive before the 2006 subprime mortgage crisis, reduced to insignificant between 2006 and 2008, and turned into significantly negative between 2008 to 2014. Further, the results of this study found that bank stocks negatively respond to changes in housing prices between1990-1994 and after that the sensitivity turns into significantly positive. The significant shifts in risk sensitivities of banks stock returns coincide alterations in long-term interest rates and monetary policy, especially, the enormously stimulative monetary policy after the financial crisis in 2008.
Ms. Chen is currently pursuing a master’s in statistics at the University of Missouri-Columbia where she plans to complete her Ph.D. in statistics.
