Elon math students and faculty present at Mathematical Association of America Southeastern Section Conference

By Hwayeon Ryu, faculty

March 11, 2025

A group of people pose in front of a brick building
Elon University’s Department of Mathematics and Statistics at the Southeastern Section Meeting of the Mathematical Association of America at High Point University in Feb/March 2025.

Students and faculty at the Elon Mathematics Department attended and presented at the MAA Southeastern Section Meeting on Feb. 27-March 1, 2025, at High Point University.

Elon University’s Department of Mathematics and Statistics had a strong showing this March at the Southeastern Section Meeting of the Mathematical Association of America, which was held at High Point University.

At this conference, over 20 members of the mathematics and statistics department (13 Elon students and 10 faculty) attended, and 18 members (11 students and seven faculty) presented.

Student Accomplishments:

  • Lila Snodgrass ’26, a Lumen Scholar, and Sol Addison ’25, an Honors Fellow, co-presented their collaboration work titled “The Danceability Index” in an oral session. Their research is mentored by Assistant Professor of Mathematics Nancy Scherich.

    Two people stand next to a presentation screen and look up at it
    Sol Addison ’25 (left) and Lila Snodgrass ’26 (right) co-presented their collaboration work titled “The Danceability Index.”
  • Lauren Beuerle ‘25, a Lumen Scholar and an Honors Fellow, gave an oral presentation titled, “Mathematical Modeling of COVID-19 With a Focus on Asymptomatic Transmission.” Her research is mentored by Karen Yokley, professor of mathematics.
  • Jillian Thomas ‘25, an Honors Fellow, gave an oral presentation titled, “Numerical Simulation of Jellyfish Swimming,” under Yokley’s supervision.  Jillian’s work was funded by the National Science foundation.
  • Liwei Chen ’25, shared her research work in a poster titled “A Recursive Approach to a Multi-State Cylindrical Lights Out Game” mentored by Kristen Mazur, associate professor of mathematics and statistics.
A woman wearing a lanyard and badge stands next to a research poster
Liwei Chen ’25 presented her poster titled “A Recursive Approach to a Multi-State Cylindrical Lights Out Game.”
  • Nicolas Alvarez ’27 and Murilo Lopes ‘27, gave a poster presentation on their project “Mathematical Modeling of SARS-CoV-2 Reveals Immune Cell Dysfunction.” Their work has been supported by the National Science Foundation, under Associate Professor of Math Hwayeon Ryu’s supervision.
Three people stand around a research poster presentation
Murilo Lopes ‘27 (left) and Nicolas Alvarez ’27 (middle) gave a poster presentation on their project “Mathematical Modeling of SARS-CoV-2 Reveals Immune Cell Dysfunction,” mentored by Associate Professor of Mathematics Hwayeon Ryu (right).
  • Clayton McLamb ’25, Nat Song ‘26, Lily Helm ‘25,and William Corky ‘26 gave a poster presentation on their project “Area under a rolling ellipse (without actually rolling it)”. This project is co-mentored by Professor of Mathematics Todd Lee and Assistant Professor of Mathematics Nancy Scherich.

    Five people stand around a research presentation poster
    Left to right: Assistant Professor of Mathematics and Statistics Nancy Scherich, Lily Helm ‘25, William Corky ‘26, Clayton McLamb ’25 and Nat Song ‘26 presenting a poster on “Area under a rolling ellipse (without actually rolling it).”

Faculty Accomplishments:

  • Associate Professors of Mathematics Hwayeon Ryu and Aaron Trocki led the workshop on “Strategies for Targeting and Assessing Conceptual Understanding in Undergraduate Mathematics” based on their recent SoTL project for the Calculus I course, supported by Elon’s Inclusive Excellence in STEM Grant.
Two people stand in front of a white board with two screens over their head, each showing the Elon University logo
Associate Professor of Mathematics Aaron Trocki (left) and Associate Professor of Mathematics Hwayeon Ryu (right) led the workshop on “Strategies for Targeting and Assessing Conceptual Understanding in Undergraduate Mathematics.”
  • Associate Professor of Mathematics Kristen Mazur and Senior Lecturer Ryne VanKrevelen gave a contributed talk on “Creating an Undergraduate Learning Assistants Program for Calculus 1 and Introductory Statistics Courses,” supported by an Elon Innovation Grant and Elon’s Inclusive Excellence in STEM Grant.
A man stands in front of a room in front of a projector screen presenting while several people are seated and one stands watching.
Senior Lecturer, Ryne VanKrevelen and Associate Professor of Mathematics and Statistics, Kristen Mazur gave a contributed talk titled “Creating an Undergraduate Learning Assistants Program for Calculus 1 and Introductory Statistics Courses.”
  • Lecturer Brittany Riggs gave a contributed talk on “Developing an Interdisciplinary Course on the History of Women in Mathematics.”  This talk focused on her work developing “COR 3002: Rebel Women of Mathematics” at Elon University.
A woman stands in front of a projector screen presenting
Lecturer, Brittany Riggs gave a contributed talk on “Developing an Interdisciplinary Course on the History of Women in Mathematics.”
  • Professor of Mathematics Crista Arangala gave a contributed talk on “A Data Competency Quality Enhancement Plan.” This talk focused on Elon’s 2020-2030 Strategic Plan and commitment to a Data Competency Quality Enhancement Plan that harnesses the data-centric interdisciplinary work done across campus.

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