Mathematics
Meet the Faculty | Departmental Information Sheets
Academic Program
Emory & Henry is dedicated to building a firm foundation of mathematical skills for all students. We combine traditional classroom instruction with technology to develop your talents with enthusiasm and care. In our increasingly information-based society, you need significant quantitative ability. Such ability will be the gateway to productive employment and effective citizenship. Mathematics as a core discipline in arts and science is essential to many fields of study.
The department emphasizes teaching excellence as its primary goal. The major educational objectives are to provide an appreciation for mathematics and its application to other disciplines, to encourage the development of higher order thinking and problem solving skills, and to prepare students for further study and employment.
At Emory & Henry, we encourage you to learn mathematics by doing. Our introductory courses and many of our advanced courses are based on the philosophy that you must construct your own understanding of mathematical concepts.
Degree Program
Two tracks of study are offered in the Mathematics Department in which either the B.A. or the B.S. degree may be earned. Both programs offer a broad foundation in theoretical and applied mathematics, providing the necessary preparation for teaching, graduate study, or related work in a number of vocational fields.
For either degree, you must gain an appreciation for and understanding of the quantitative world around us through an introductory statistics course. Both courses of study culminate in a senior seminar, team-taught by all members of the department. To complete the degree, B.A. candidates minor in any other discipline.
Students in the B.S. degree program minor in biology, chemistry, physics, or psychology. You may combine a mathematics degree with a second major in fields such as art, business, chemistry, computer science, geography, religion, or physics.
In addition, the department offers a B.A. degree in teacher preparation, which enables graduates to meet Virginia requirements for licensure to teach mathematics.
Special Oppoertunities
Students have access to state-of-the-art computers. The department is also equipped with a UNIX server and lab and a variety of software including Maple, Minitab, SPSS, and C++.
Students may work as tutors in the college’s Math and Quantitative Literacy Center.
Students are active in the Mathematics Club which strives to enrich the mathematical education of E&H students by:
• exploring fun aspects of mathematics
• creating a community of math students at E&H
• promoting extracurricular interaction between math faculty and students
• linking students to the worldwide mathematical community.
Internships
You are encouraged to participate in the internship program and/or to enroll in independent studies. Internships have been completed with the Washington County Public Schools, the Cumberland Plateau Planning District Commission, the Washington County Chamber of Commerce, the Smyth County Community Hospital, the Roanoke City Commissioner of Revenue, the Virginia Department of Transportation, and Havers Computer Services. Independent studies have been conducted in cryptology, coding theory, chaos theory, topology, complex analysis, number theory, and mathematical applications in biology.
Alumni
The success of our graduates reflects the strength of the Emory & Henry mathematics program. Below are some examples:
Kyle Clark, ’09, pursuing a Ph.D. in materials science at University of California, Berkely.
Justin Dennison, ’08, pursuing a Ph.D. in engineering at the University of Florida.
Andrea Overbay, ’08, pursuing a Ph.D., University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
Joel Font, ’08, pursuing a Ph.D., University of Kansas.
Anne Ryan, ’06, Ph.D., Biostats, Virginia Tech.
Van L. Tran, ’05, analyst, cytogenetics department, Quest Diagnostics, Inc., Springfield, Va.
Preston Ryan Gordon, ’04, teacher, Pulaski County Public Schools, Radford, Va.
Brian Edward Buynn, ’03, teacher, John S. Battle High School, Bristol, Va.
Christina LeRay Trent, ‘02, teacher and coach, Holston High School, Chilhowie, Va.
Lee Ann Heaton Fuller, ’01, teacher and coach, John Carroll Catholic High School, Birmingham, Ala.
Amanda Kay Shifflett, ’01, Atley Pharmaceuticals, Greenville, S.C.
Nichole Hay, ’00, Northwest Piedmont Council of Governments; Ph.D., public policy, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Troy Pollard, ’99, teaching assistant in atmospheric science, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyo.
Mary Margaret Brewer, ’97, teaching assistant in astrophysics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
Amanda Howery Thompson, ’96, teacher, Floyd County School System, Floyd, Va.
Scott Updike, ’93, M.A., applied mathematics, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Rodney Beville, ’89, educator, New River and Wytheville Community Colleges; M.A., applied mathematics, College of William and Mary.
David John, ’73, faculty member, Wake Forest University.
Faculty
Department Chair
John Iskra, jiskra@ehc.edu
Ph.D., University of Tennessee
Professional interests: algebraic geometry and category theory
Daniel M. Pragel, dpragel@ehc.edu
Ph.D., California Institute of Technology
Professional interests: combinatorics and discrete mathematics
Mark Hainsworth, mhainsworth@ehc.edu
M.S., University of Maryland
Professional interests: environmental and chemical engineering. Director of Quantitative Literacy.
Xiaoxue Li, xli@ehc.edu
Ph.D. and M.S., Lehigh University
Professional interests: geometry and topology
Teena Carroll, ccarroll@ehc.edu
B.A.: Kenyon College · M.S.: University of Nebraska · Ph.D: Georgia Institute of Technology
