Greetings from the Math Department

New Faculty: Darcy (Hanks) Ireland

New Faculty: Nicholas Boros

Math Morsels

New Admin Assistant: Marci (Foor) Reynolds

2013–2014 Faculty Position available

Student Reflection: Sarah Langeland

Math Foundation Scholarship

Math Department Contacts

NONPROFIT ORG.

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

BOURBONNAIS, IL

PERMIT NO. 61

Greetings from the Department of Mathematics at Olivet Nazarene University! This is our sixth year of producing a newsletter for our alumni. Through this newsletter, we hope to fill you in on what is happening in the Department of Mathematics. The Lord continues to bless the Department of Mathematics with new students, new faculty, and new staff. Each year, I feel that the department has been so blessed that the bubble must eventually burst, but the blessings continue to flow. Let me share some of the highlights. The department had a record class of new majors with 32 new names added to our major list this year, including new freshmen, transfers, and even a few switching from other majors. At the start of the se-mester, we were at 80 majors in the department. Let me share another little known fact: the Depart-ment of Mathematics is the fastest growing department, percentagewise in terms of majors, at Olivet. In fact it does not matter whether you go back four, five or six years, the Department of Mathematics is the fastest growing department on campus. This year, we welcome two new faculty, Dr. Nicholas Boros and Professor Darcy Ireland. You can read more about these new additions on pages 2 and 3. We also welcome Marci Reynolds as our administra-tive assistant this year. In fact, as a commercial graphic major, Marci is the one who put together the newsletter this year. (continued on page 2)

The Department of Mathematics is pleased to welcome Professor Darcy Ireland as a new assistant professor. Professor Ire-land graduated from Olivet with a B.S. in mathematics education in 2002. She completed her Master of Arts in education (curriculum and instruction) from Olivet in 2011. Professor Ireland joined Olivet’s faculty in 2012 and teaches courses in math methods, math for ele-mentary teachers, algebra and trigonometry, and also works with students and student teachers in the math education program. For the past nine years, Professor Ireland taught mathematics at Bradley Bourbonnais Community High School, Bourbonnais, Ill. While at BBCHS, she also coached their girls softball team and math team. Darcy is married to Kyle ’02/’06 MAT, who teaches mathematics at ONU in the Department of General Studies. They actually met in Dr. Hathaway’s Calculus I Class in September 1998 and dated throughout college. While at ONU, Darcy was a resident assistant and played women’s softball. She received Olivet’s Larry D. Watson Ambassador Award, the highest honor any athlete at Olivet Nazarene University can attain. It is awarded annual-ly to a female and male athlete who exemplifies the best in Christian character and witness on and off the playing field.

Darcy and Kyle married in 2002 and reside in Bourbonnais with their two daughters, Capri (6) and Carsyn (3). In her free time, Professor Ireland enjoys running, bike riding with her girls

and playing the game, Settlers of Catan.

Kyle and Darcy Ireland Capri and Carsyn

Last year’s newsletter announced two retirements, but Dr. David Atkinson stayed on one more year to help us out. So we will be looking again for one more faculty member, ideally someone with high school teaching experience and a doctorate (or work toward or interest in a doctorate). If you or someone you know might be interested, please let me know. Our complete faculty ad is on Olivet’s website and a shortened version is on page 7 of this newsletter. Because of costs, we will eventually convert this newsletter to exclusively an e-mail attachment. Please make sure that we have a current e-mail address for you, so that you will not miss any of the future newsletters. Also, please share your stories with us. We are very interested in hearing about how you are doing. We might even add a column to future newsletters, sharing updated information on our alumni. Thank you for allowing us to share part of your journey. In Christ, Dale K. Hathaway

Dr. Nicholas Boros joined Olivet’s faculty in 2012 after teaching at Michigan State University for seven years. He graduated from the University of Michigan – Flint with a B.A. in mathematics and a B.A. in physics in 2003. He earned his Ph.D. in Mathematics from Michigan State University in 2012. At Olivet, he teaches calculus, differ-ential equations, numerical analysis, real analysis and senior seminar. His research interests lie in sharply estimating Fourier multiplier operators using techniques in harmonic analy-sis. However, he uses methods and techniques not just from harmonic analysis, but also from partial differential equations, variational calculus, optimal control theory and probability. With Alexander Volberg as his advisor, Dr. Boros completed his dissertation on “Computing the LP–operator norm of a quadratic perturbation of Burkholder’s martingale transform, via the Bellman function technique, and using the martingale estimates to obtain the exact LP–operator norm of certain combinations of squares of Riesz transforms. ” His research has been published in Comptes Rendus Mathematique Journal, Advances in Mathe-matics Journal and Indiana University Mathematics Journal. He has presented his work on harmon-ic analysis for the American Mathematics Society and Mathematical Association of America annual meetings, INRIA Sophia Antipolis Méditerranée (France), Instituto Matemáticas Universidad Sevilla (Spain) and Fields Institute (Canada). While at Michigan State, Dr. Boros received the Senior Graduate Teaching Award. His teaching as-signments included serving as the Charles Drew Science Scholars mathematics instructor, the Math Enrichment for Student Athletes instructor and the Engineering and Science Summer Academy “Bridge Program” mathematics instructor. He is a member of the Mathematical Association of America and American Mathematical Society. For the 2012–2013 academic year, he is a Project NExT fellow. Tending toward the eclectic, he enjoys traveling and eating ethnic foods from other countries. When he’s off campus, you might find him watching one of his favorite international or independ-ent films. Dr. Boros and his wife, Lindsey, are the parents of Elizabeth, and family time is one of his top priorities.

Lindsey, Nick and Elizabeth Boros

Congratulations to our 2012 graduates : Indalia Berner, Mathematics Education – West Town Academy, Chicago, Ill. Terese Byrne, Mathematics Education – Subbing for North & South High Schools, Downers Grove, Ill. Danette Kinnison, Mathematics – Reynolds & Reynolds, Dayton, Ohio Dan Saffell, Mathematics – Graduate school Alverno College and teaching at International Peace Academy,

Milwaukee, Wis. Jacob Schmidt, Actuarial Science – Lincoln Financial Group, Fort Wayne, Ind. Carrie Tapp, Mathematics Education – Teaching at a high school in Texas Carl Trank, Mathematics and Actuarial Science – Graduate School, Northern Illinois University Danielle Vander Schaaf, Mathematics Education & Elementary Education – St. Anne High School,

St. Anne, Ill. Todd Yeoman, Mathematics Education – Bishop McNamara High School, Kankakee, Ill.

Congratulations to Carl Trank, the Department’s Outstanding Graduate for 2012. Carl was a mathe-matics and actuarial science major from Winnebago, Ill., and has started a graduate program at Northern Illinois University.

Congratulations to Sarah Langeland, Rachel Von Arb, and Adam Weeks who passed the Actuarial FM exam on their first attempt this past summer. Both Sarah and Rachel have passed both the P and FM exams. Rachel is graduating in January, and Sarah is graduating in May 2013. So if you are in the ac-tuarial field and your company is looking to hire, please let us know.

We had seven students take the Putnam exam this year. The Putnam exam is designed to discriminate

among college and university mathematics students at the highest level, and this year’s exam was especially challenging. The intent of the ex-am is to identify and rank the top few col-lege math students. It is an accomplishment just to score points. Mark Lynn and Jamison Burchfield each scored 1 point.

Dr. Justin Brown with Putnam exam participants

2012 Graduates—Department of Mathematics

Olivet had four teams participate in the 2012 ACCA

Calculus contest. Our top team, consisting of Katie Cole, Mark Lynn, and Carl Trank finished in third place. All four of our teams finished in the top 16 places out of 43 teams. Every one of our teams finished in the top 40%, in some cases scoring higher than any team from several of the ACCA schools!

Three Actuarial Science Students had internships this summer. Not all are actuarial internships, but all are in related fields. Sarah Langeland had an actuarial internship with Transamerica.

Kelsey Nelson had an internship with Northwestern Mutual as a financial representative. Rachel Von Arb had an internship with Aon Risk Solutions a division of Aon Corporation. The Department of Mathematics once again has a record number of majors this fall, 80 at last

count. This fall we welcomed over 30 new students (freshmen and transfers).

Dr. Justin Brown had another article published from his dissertation. “Arithmetically Gorenstein Schubert varieties in a minuscule G/P,” appeared in Pure and Applied Mathematics Quarterly.

Dr. Justin Brown was also accepted into the Mathematics Research Communities program, specifi-

cally under the conference theme of “Geometry and Representation Theory Related to Geometric Complexity and Other Variants of P v. NP.”

Dr. Nicholas Boros has been selected as a Project NExT fellow. This is a national professional devel-opment program for new faculty in the mathematical sciences.

Dr. Nicholas Boros was also involved this past summer as an assistant mentor for 2012 Summer Un-

dergraduate Research Institute in Experimental Mathematics at Michigan State University/Lyman Briggs College.

Dr. Nicholas Boros gave a talk on “Laminates meet Burkholder Functions” at The Institute for Mathematics and Its Applications at University of Minnesota in May 2012. Dr. Dale Hathaway gave a talk on “Origami for Math Clubs” at the Joint AMS/MAA meetings in January 2012. Dr. Stephen Brown was honored with a plaque that will be placed on the Reed Hall of Science wall of recognition for his years of service to Olivet. Dr. Brown also recently received professor emeritus status.

Dr. Stephen Brown

Dr. Atkinson receives a pie in the face from Adam Weeks, in celebration of Pi Day.

Pi Mu Epsilon, the national mathematics honor society, inducted eleven new members to Olivet’s Mu chapter during the spring semester. The new members, listed alphabetically, are: John Thomas Hall ’14, Mathematics Education, Tinley Park, Ill. Katherine Hozian ’13, Mathematics Education,

Elk Grove Village, Ill. (not pictured) Mark Lynn ’13, Mathematics, Naperville, Ill. Aaron Miles ’13, Mathematics Education, Holt, Mich. Kelsey Nelson ’13, Actuarial Science, Grayslake, Ill. Linnea Orne ’13, Engineering, Eden Prairie, Minn. Elise Payne ’13, Chemistry, Elgin, Ill. Jessica Peters ’13, Actuarial Science, Bourbonnais, Ill. Matthew Smith ’14, Engineering, East Hazel Crest, Ill. Taylor Stephens ’13, Mathematics Education, Ada, Mich. Rachel Von Arb ’13, Mathematics & Actuarial Science,

Lisle, Ill.

Olivet’s Mu chapter of Pi Mu Epsilon

We are pleased to welcome Marci (Foor) Reynolds ’97 as our new part time administrative assistant. Marci also works part time in the department of Development. Marci graduated from Olivet with a B.S. in art: commercial graphics, and a minor in marketing in 1997. She has worked at Olivet previously as a resident director and returned to working at Olivet this fall. Marci has been enjoying the challenge of incorporating some of her right-brain creativity into a left-brain department. Marci is married to Adam ’98/MAPC ’13, who is a school behavior specialist and will complete his master’s in professional counseling/school counseling from ONU in May 2013. Marci and Adam married in 1997 and reside in Bourbonnais with their two children, Trey (9) and Addison (6). In her free time, Marci does freelance design work and enjoys painting , photo editing, and journaling.

Marci, Trey, Addison and Adam Reynolds

Math alumni at the Homecoming Reception, 2011 (L to R): Paul Christmas ’66, Laura Warfel, Darrell Jones ’66,

Judy (Goodman) Nash ’66, and Michele (Abner) Hanson ’86.

“The summer following my junior year, I had the opportunity to participate in an actuarial internship at Transamerica Life Insurance Company in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Transamerica is a subsidiary of AEGON, an international life insurance, pension, and asset management company based in The Hague, the Netherlands. The 13-week internship offered through Transamerica pro-vided placement of its actuarial interns in four divisions: Corporate; Individu-al Savings and Retirement; Life and Protection; and Employer Solutions and Pension. I was placed in the Life and Protection division in the Valuation de-partment. Since my junior year in high school, I knew that I wanted to be an actuary. What I did not know was what an actuary actually did on a day-to-day basis. Actuarial science is not a well-known field, so I had to do research on my own to find out more about the profession. Through this exploration, as well as my major classes at Olivet, I began to put the pieces together as to what it means to be an actuary. My internship this summer filled in the remaining gaps. Through my internship, I had the chance to network with professionals already in the field, as well as learn more about the role actuaries play in the insurance industry. After hearing time and again that actuaries have much to do with figuring out the amount of reserves a company must hold to meet its future obligations, I was finally able to get hands-on experience with these calculations. At the end of the internship, I presented to a group of full-time actuaries my findings on the financial impact of the experience refund balances for two corporate accounts. I am grateful for the chance I had to meet other actuarial students, as well as to network with employees both in and out of my department. The meetings I had with these individuals encouraged me to continue on in the actuarial field. After leaving my internship, I now have a better understanding

of actuarial science along with a job at Transamerica for after I graduate. I am thankful for my time spent at Olivet, and I look forward to what the future has to offer.”

Summer interns with Transamerica (Sarah Langeland: back row, far right)

The Department of Mathematics invites applicants for a full-time faculty position. Ideal candi-dates will possess high school teaching experience and a doctorate (or work toward or interest in a doctorate). Teaching will be approximately 12 credit hours per semester, ranging from liberal arts level classes to junior/senior level courses for mathematics majors, dependent on the candi-date’s area of expertise. More information on the position can be found at http://www.olivet.edu/Employment/Professor,_Mathematics.aspx.

Sarah Langeland ’13

One University Avenue

Bourbonnais, IL 60914

www.olivet.edu

800.648.1463

Dale Hathaway • hathaway@olivet.edu

David Atkinson • datkinsn@olivet.edu

Nicholas Boros • nboros@olivet.edu

Justin Brown • jbrown7@olivet.edu

Daniel Green • dgreen@olivet.edu

Darcy Ireland • direland@olivet.edu

Marci Reynolds • mreynold@olivet.edu

Adam Weeks ’14

The Department of Mathematics has established a fund to support scholarships for current students. Below is a portion of the letter received from this year’s recipient, Adam Weeks ’14:

“...I believe that I am where God wants me to be at this point in my life and am continuously seeing how God will provide to make it happen … In March I had a chance to go on a mission trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico with about 20 other Olivet students … it was a great experience and it was exciting to see God work through our team as we shared His love with the people we met there … Thank you again for your contribution for this scholarship. Without people like you, my education at Olivet would not be possible…” -Adam Weeks, La Moille, Ill

If you would like to contribute to the scholarship fund and make a difference in a student’s life, please send your contributions to: Office of Development Attn: The Department of Mathematics Scholarship Fund Olivet Nazarene University Foundation One University Avenue, Box 6003 Bourbonnais, IL 60914