Matthew DeLong, Ph.D.
Chair, Department of Mathematics

Education

• Ph.D. Mathematics—University of Michigan, 1998
• M.S.   Mathematics—University of Michigan, 1996
• B.A.    Mathematics, Economics, and Mathematical Methods in the Social Sciences—Northwestern University, 1993

Professional affiliations

• Mathematical Association of America (MAA)

Fellowships and awards: 

• The MAA’s Deborah and Franklin Tepper Haimo Award for Distinguished College or University Teaching of Mathematics, 2012
• The MAA’s Henry L. Alder Award for Distinguished Teaching by a Beginning College or University Mathematics Faculty Member, 2005
• MAA Project NExT Fellow, 1999

Courses you teach:

• MAT130:  Statistics in the Contemporary World
• MAT231:  Calculus II
• MAT250:  Problem Solving and Introduction to Proofs
• MAT305:  Calculus III
• MAT409:  Discrete Mathematics

Research interests: 

• Knot Theory
• Connections of mathematics to philosophy and theology
• The scholarship of teaching and learning in mathematics
• Faculty development

Representative scholarly contributions:

•  2016 “Mastery Problems Promote Polished Proofs in Abstract Algebra,” in Beyond Lecture: Techniques to Improve Student Proof-Writing Across the Curriculum, Schwell, Steurer and Vasquez Eds., MAA Notes Series, No. 85, pp. 293-298.
• 2015 “Simple and Sustainable Faculty Development Initiatives that Promote Collaboration among all Faculty Members” with Mark Colgan, MathAMATYC Educator, Volume 7, No. 1, pp. 24-26.
• 2015 “Colorability and Determinants of Twisted Torus Knots” with Matthew Russell and Jonathan Schrock, Involve, Volume 8, No. 3, pp. 361-384.
• 2015  “A Teaching Polygon Makes Learning a Community Enterprise” with Mark Colgan, PRIMUS (Problems Resources and Issues in Mathematics Undergraduate Studies), Volume 25, Issue 1, pp. 41-49.
• 2011 “Beauty,” in Mathematics Through the Eyes of Faith, Bradley and Howell Eds., Harper One2009   “Lesson Planning Practices of Mathematics Teaching Assistants:  Procedures and Resources” with Joe Wesley and Dale Winter, Studies in Graduate and Professional Student Development, Volume 12, pp. 97-110
• 2001 Learning to Teach and Teaching to Learn Mathematics:  Resources for Professional Development with Dale Winter, MAA Notes Series, No. 57. 

Other notable professional activities:

• Associate Director of MAA’s Project NExT, a national professional development program for new or recent Ph.D.s in the mathematical sciences that addresses all aspects of an academic career
• Academic Director of MathPath, an international advanced summer program for students age 11-14 who show high promise and love mathematics
• Chair of the MAA Committee on the Earle Raymond Hedrick Lectures
• Member of the MAA's Dolciani Editorial Board