Welcome to the Department of Mathematics
Interested in studying math at Concordia University? We are now accepting applications for scholarships in math and science. Please e-mail Dr. Robert Krueger at rkrueger@csp.edu for more information. Apply for admission to Concordia today!
Summer Experiences for Concordia Math Majors
Several Concordia math students spent their summer in various research and educational experiences. These opportunities greatly enhanced their education and were a rewarding experience.
Tiffany Goodchild, Sandra James, Christine Mennicke
Christine Mennicke (Math and Biology double-major): My research internship was at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Green Bank, West Virginia. I was there for 10 weeks completing a research project called "Observations in Pre-Biotic Chemistry" with a supervisor and student partner. In this internship, my partner and I reduced and analyzed data taken using the Green Bank Telescope, the largest steerable telescope in the world. The analysis involved finding the intensities of molecular signals from the Taurus Molecular Cloud, a large,cold interstellar cloud. We used these intensities to fit a temperature model for the cloud, and we helped write a paper documenting this model. Also, the analysis involved searching for new molecules in the cloud. Other activities included weekly lectures and a week-long conference at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico.
Sandra James (Math major with Secondary Licensure): Sandra participated in the 2009 NSF-REU program in Extremal Graph Theory and Dynamical Systems in the School of Mathematical Sciences at Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY. She studied in the graph theory track. The research focused on two extensions of the concept of vertex rankings of graphs. For both extensions, Sandra, her research partner, and their advisor proved that the Greedy Algorithm gives an optimal ranking and derived formulas for the rank number of path graphs. A paper containing the results will be submitted to a mathematical journal and will be presented in San Francisco at the Joint Mathematics Meetings.
Tiffany Goodchild (Math Major with 5-12 Teaching Licensure): I was selected as one of 21 out of 160 applicants to be a faculty member at Breakthrough St. Paul, a rigorous summer program that includes approximately 115 motivated and high-potential, under-resourced middle school students from the St. Paul Public Schools. For nine weeks during the summer, I will mentor and teach a mathematics course that I designed and developed to classes of middle school students. I will be teaching 2 math classes, 2 explorations elective classes and will be supervising one extra-curricular activity class per day. I will also be assigned to a ?college? that consists of 8-9 students and one other faculty member. We will be responsible for advising the students in our college, for checking their homework, and for keeping in touch with their families at home. We will also compete as a ?college? in fun activities such as the Spirit Day and College Bowl. This will be a challenging and exciting experience and I?m really looking forward to it.
Two Math Majors Named Top Four Student-Athletes
Congratulations to math majors Kirk Ingram (baseball) and Maggie McNamara (volleyball) for being named to the Top Four. Kirk and Maggie were awarded Top Four honors by the Concordia Department of Athletics for their outstanding leadership in the classroom, on the field, and in service to the community. The awards were distributed at the Put Me In Coach fundraiser on Saturday, March 23, 2009. Dr. Robert Krueger introduced Maggie McNamara and Baseball Head Coach Mark "Lunch" McKenzie introduced Kirk Ingram. Kirk won the award for the second year in a row.
Math Day 2009 was Wednesday, February 25, 2009. Click for more information.
Why study math? Here is a link to an article from the Wall Street Journal listing Mathematician, Actuary, and Statistician as the best jobs in America: Doing the Math to Find the Good Jobs, By Sarah E. Needleman, Wall Street Journal
Archive of previously published math articles
Mission: The Department of Mathematics contributes to the Concordia community by encouraging recognition and understanding of math in the world around them. We offer the advanced math student an evolving blend of classical methods and modern techniques to prepare them for professional careers or graduate study.
