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Depa ematics
Math

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2014

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The Mathematics Department

ar

is part of the Division of Mathematics and

Computer Information Sciences, which in turn is part of the School of Physical and Applied
Sciences. In 2014, the Math/CIS Division moved into the new $42 million Ott Hall of Science
and Nursing, which we share with Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Nursing, and the new School
of Health Sciences.
If you can join us for Homecoming this fall, the official dedication for Ott Hall will be on Oct
2, and building tours will be available on Oct 4 http://alumni.indwes.edu/Homecoming/OttHall/. A virtual tour is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjxAO8zKPhQ
Read more about the specific labs, classrooms and technology page 2.
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Faculty and Staff|Facilities and Equipment|Activities and Accomplishments|Curriculum and Evolvement|Needs

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In 13 years at IWU,

Dr. Mel Royer has taught roughly 30 different math classes plus

(occasionally) physics and computer science. He also serves as the chair of the Division of
Mathematics and Computer Information Sciences. He in interested in involving students
in undergraduate research in neural networks and dynamical systems related to mathematical biology and also spends occasional summers teaching English in Asian countries.
He has most recently enjoyed contributing to the design and furnishing of the Math/CIS
areas of the new Ott Hall of Science and Nursing and working on an article on paradoxical solids of revolution published in the journal PRIMUS.
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10511970.2010.517601#.U8_pqbHZ7HQ

Dr. Bob Mallison just finished his 10th year at IWU. Most recently, he has taught
calculus, statistics, differential equations, number theory, and an online liberal arts
math course. Dr. Mallison developed and administers our new Actuarial Science minor
and advises the growing number of students interested in actuarial science. A proud
grandfather, he is also a songwriter and regularly performs with the country gospel
band Upward Praise. http://www.upwardpraise.com

Dr. Daniel Kiteck has been at IWU for 6 years. He most frequently teaches liberal
arts math, linear and abstract algebra, History and Foundations, college algebra,
math for elementary teachers, and discrete math, and has recently presented at several conferences on innovative active learning methods used in his classes. He also
serves as Mathematics Department Coordinator and leads the division in its academic
assessment. Dr. Kiteck has recently supervised several very successful undergraduate
research projects, where one student, Tyler Carrico, had his article published in the
mathematics journal Involve. An overview of the article is at:
http://msp.org/involve/2013/6-4/p04.xhtml

Dr. Melissa Lindsey joined IWU 3 years ago. She has recently taught calculus, geometry, math for elementary teachers, liberal arts math, and linear algebra. She also is
developing active learning methods in her classes and has an ongoing research project
to study the effectiveness of online homework in calculus classes. She has mentored
many students through her role as faculty advisor to the math club (Mathematical Academic Consortium). She and her husband currently have children.

Mrs. Sara Atkinson has been secretary of the Math and Computer Departments
for 8 years. She is the front door to the division, greeting incoming visitors and
phone callers. She handles scheduling, purchasing, and troubleshooting, and ably
shepherds the faculty into being where they need to be at the right time, a job
similar to herding cats. She and her husband have the privilege of coaching in their
sons astonishingly active T-Ball league.

Dr. Scott McCullough is joining both the Departments of Mathematics and

Physics in a split appointment this year (IWU has new majors in Physics and Physics
Education). He has over a decade of teaching, ministry, and curriculum development experience in Yemen. At IWU, he will teach both physics and applied mathematics courses.

After 13 years at IWU,

Dr. Gail Greene retired from teaching in May 2013. She

then spent much of last year on campus finishing up a large research project on the
teaching of the mathematically gifted. She is now in the process of moving back to
Cincinnati. Many of you who laughed and cried through Dr. Greenes History and
Foundations course will be pleased to know she published an article on her teaching
experiences in the Mathematical Association of America publication Focus.
http://digital.ipcprintservices.com/article/
Teaching+Students+How+To+Survive+Oral+Presentations/568660/0/article.html

In addition, we hire 3-4 dedicated and qualified adjunct

instructors each semester to assist in teaching our classes.

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Our students will do most of their
work in the following rooms:

OHSN

180

ies a

Majors Lab

The Majors Lab contains 6

PC's and serves as a CIS classroom as needed, but its main
function is as collaboration and project space.
Movable furniture allows the room to rapidly
be configured to whatever seating arrangement
best suits the need.

Computer
Classrooms

OHSN

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Math
Modeling Lab

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The Modeling Lab contains PC

workstations around the perimeter with movable furniture in the interior allowing a variety of modes of learning. An
ADInstruments PowerLab allows electronic capture of various human physiology measurements, while manual measurements can be taken with a variety of more traditional science
equipment. This data forms the basis for projects
in which students develop mathematical descriptions of real world data.

OHSN

155/
157

The Computer Classrooms

have networked laptops at
the student seats, which are
movable, with three walls
of writing surface. Each
room has both a large display projector and a
smaller interactive "smartscreen" projector.

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Office Suite

OHSN

170

Faculty offices are located in this

suite immediately adjacent to the
classroom and labs. The suite also
features study and collaboration space immediately outside the offices to encourage faculty/student
interaction.

General Purpose
Classrooms

The General Classrooms feature movable furniture, allowing different types of learning
arrangements. Three walls of
writing surface, a large display
projector, and two smaller interactive
"smartscreen" projectors make it easy for users
to present data in various ways. The projectors
can connect to both instructor and student

Our students use mathematical/statistical software

extensively, including Maple, SPSS, Geometers
Sketchpad, Geogebra, Excel, and LaTeX. All
rooms provide wireless internet access and the
classroom tables are wired with electrical power
to allow students to use laptops during class.

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Math students continue to attend professional conferences in record numbers. All freshmen in Discrete
Math attend a conference as part of the course, usually the Pi Mu Epsilon undergraduate conference at Miami University of Ohio. Multiple students have attended national conferences in San Diego (2008),
Washington DC (2009), San Francisco (2010), New
Orleans (2011), Boston (2012), and Baltimore (2014).
Math Education student teaching placements can be
abroad recent and upcoming placements include
schools in Korea, China, Dominican Republic, and
Scotland. After graduation, some students return to
teach abroad several IWU Math Education graduates are now teaching full-time in China and Honduras.

The student Math Club (officially the Mathematics

Academic Consortium) has provided social and academic opportunities for students in the Department
since 2005. MAC sponsors events such as department
chapels, pumpkin carving contests, math challenge
problem contests, game nights, faculty appreciation
dinners, etc.

At our (almost) weekly department colloquium, faculty and students present on their research projects,
something learned at a conference, experiences in a
recent internship, or any other topic.

Derek

Thompson,

2006

IWU Mathematics graduate, went

on to earn a Ph.D. in Mathematics
from IUPUI and recently joined the
faculty at Taylor University.

Kelly Day,

2009 Math Educa-

tion graduate teaching at Westfield

Middle School near Indianapolis,
recently won a grant from the Lilly
Foundation to study mathematics
education in Asia. The idea sprang
from her IWU Math Senior Seminar
project and allowed her to travel
to seven Asian countries over a
two month period.

Tyler Carrico,

2012 Mathe-

matics graduate, published a paper

entitled The Probability of Randomly Generating Finite Abelian
Groups in Involve: A Journal of
Mathematics over material he did
in an independent research experience he did at IWU with Dr. Kiteck.
See an overview at: http://msp.org/
involve/2013/6-4/p04.xhtml

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Chelsea Rethlake,

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2012 Math Education graduate, went home to be with

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the Lord in September 2013 following a long battle with lymphoma. A study room in
the Ott Hall of Science and Nursing will be named in her memory. During her
treatment, she kept an inspiring blog at
http://chelseaslittlepumpkin.blogspot.com/

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Taking our alumni survey

sent with

this newsletter is helpful. For accreditation purposes,

we are required to do extensive and ongoing assessment of
our programs, and alumni feedback is a highly valuable part
of this process.

Kylee German,

2012

Information on jobs and internships

Math Education graduate, accepted a teaching position at

Academia Los Piares in Honduras.

Luke Nelsen,

can be

emailed to sara.atkinson@indwes.edu or melvin.royer@indwes.edu If you know of an employer who

has openings for permanent jobs or summer internships and
would look favorably on math students from IWU, please
send us contact information and we will follow up.

2012 Mathe-

Financial giving

matics graduate, just finished

his Masters Degree at Miami
University of Ohio and is beginning a Ph.D. in mathematics
at University of Colorado at
Denver.

through http://www.indwes.edu/

Giving/ can be designated for the Mathematics Department

Special Projects Fund. This fund is used to help send students to conferences, purchase computing and lab equipment, host student activities, etc. If you would like to donate to the room in memory of Chelsea, designate the gift
to the Chelsea Rethlake Memorial. Larger amounts can be
set aside for endowed student scholarships with criteria chosen by the donor.

If you are wondering why

your name is not here, it is
because we have lost track of
you. Renew the relationship
by sending a note of your
latest activities to
sara.atkinson@indwes.edu

Speaking to current undergraduates is an option

for those able to come to campus. The Department hosts an
outside speaker at least once per year, and choosing an IWU
alumnus with a compelling life story is an option we have
used before and would gladly do so again. Email your topic
to Mrs. Atkinson or Dr. Royer for consideration.

Prayer is always appreciated. Pray that our students will

deal well with pressure (the workload is no less than when
you were here!), that the faculty will be given discernment
and energy to keep a dynamic Christian atmosphere flourishing in their classrooms, and that the Lord will continue to
direct students to come to Indiana Wesleyan.

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Check out our latest brochure and find more information about the department at http://
www.indwes.edu/academics/cas/division-of-mathand-computer-information-sciences/