Department of Mathematics - School of Arts & Sciences

The University of Richmond's mathematics program provides students the opportunity to study the science of number, quantity and space, including applications to other fields.

Calculus Placement TestIncoming first-year students can take our calculus self-placement test to determine which course for them to register for.

Department News

Beginning fall 2020: Mathematics majors may choose to add a concentration in Data Science and Statistics. Data Science is an emerging interdisciplinary field that uses scientific methods, processes, algorithms, and systems to extract knowledge from data. The Data Science and Statistics (DSS) Concentration for Mathematics majors at University of Richmond is designed to supplement the major, grounding the student with a solid theoretical foundation in statistics while building the strong analytic skills that are needed to work with large and/or complex data sets. The DSS concentration prepares students for graduate study in the statistical sciences and supports students who aim for careers in any emerging area of data science.

Mathematics major Madeline Polhill ’21 presented a talk on her research on “Bryn Mawr College, 1885-1940: Mathematics on its mind'' in a session on “Creating Spaces for Mathematics” at the Joint Mathematics Meetings in January, 2020 in Denver, Colorado.

Computer Science major Aalok Sathe '21 will present his joint research with Dr. Taylor Arnold at The Chicago Colloquium on Digital Humanities and Computer Science on November 10. Their research project is titled Cultural analytics Using Audio-space Analysis of Moving-image Culture: A Demonstration Using the Sitcom Friends.

We are pleased to announce the launch of americanmathematics.org, the first website of its kind to explore the people who create, the institutions that support, and the cultures that influence mathematics.

Faculty Highlights

Torres Honored
Marcella Torres, director of mathematical studies, was recently honored by Lathisms, an organization which showcases the contributions of Latinx and Hispanic mathematicians during Hispanic Heritage Month. Read about her journey to mathematics and accomplishments here.
Wares Participates on Panel
Joanna Wares, Associate Professor of Mathematics, recently participated as a panelist on “Battling Emerging & Re-emerging Epidemics & Designing Mitigating Strategies - COVID-19”. Learn more about the discussion here.
Wares and Torres Awarded
Joanna Wares, associate professor of mathematics, and Marcella Torres, director of mathematical studies, received a grant from the Associated Colleges of the South for a project focused on creating mathematics and data science resources to support socially relevant teaching in the time of COVID-19.
Ware and Torres Awarded
Joanna Ware, associate professor of mathematics, Marcella Torres, director of mathematical studies, and team received an ACS grant for their workshop, “Mathematics and Data Science Resources to Support Socially Relevant Teaching in the Time of COVID-19”.
Kvam Awarded
Paul Kvam, a professor of statistics, has received a Fulbright Scholar Award for travel to Hong Kong to further his research in nonparametric statistics. Kvam plans to visit City University of Hong Kong from Jan. to early May 2021.
Dumbaugh invited to give plenary talk
Della Dumbaugh, Professor of Mathematics and Mathematics Program Coordinator, was invited to give a plenary talk at the Joint Mathematics Meetings of the Mathematical Association of America in Denver, CO. View the video here.
Wares Published
Joanna R. Wares published an article in Notices of the American Mathematical Society, Feb. 2020, Vo. 67, Number 2, with her colleague, Jana L. Gervertz, titled Fostering Diversity in Top-Rated Pure Mathematics Graduate Programs.
Tilton and Arnold Awarded
Lauren Tilton and Taylor Arnold in partnership with Harvard Libraries received a $50,000 grant from “Collections As Data," which is funded by the Mellon Foundation. The project uses distant viewing and computer vision to analyze social protest photography.
Arnold Published
Dr. Taylor Arnold co-authored with Dr. Lauren Tilton (Rhetoric and Communication Studies) and Dr. Annie Berke (Section Editor, LA Review of Books) an article titled “Visual Style in Two Network Era Sitcoms” in the Journal of Cultural Analytics. The article is open access.
Hidden Figures Della Dumbaugh, professor of mathematics, can speak about Hidden Figures, which focuses on the African-American women who contributed to the space program.

Upcoming Events

There are no events currently scheduled.

Scholarship Repository Readership

The University of Richmond's Scholarship Repository shares faculty publications with a world-wide audience. The map below shows where articles from math and computer science faculty are being read around the globe.

Feature Stories

UR Math Professors Receive Grant Support for Work Addressing Social Justice Issues and Teaching in the Time of COVID-19

Joanna Wares, associate professor of mathematics, and Marcella Torres, director of mathematical studies, have received a grant from the Associated Colleges of the South for a project focused on creating mathematics and data science resources to support socially relevant teaching in the time of COVID-19.

University of Richmond Statistics Professor Paul Kvam Receives Fulbright Award to Teach and Research in Hong Kong in 2021

Paul Kvam, a professor of statistics at the University of Richmond, has received a Fulbright Scholar Award for travel to Hong Kong to further his research in nonparametric statistics.

University of Richmond Receives Grant Support For Project Focusing on Women and Information Technology

Kathy Hoke, professor of mathematics and chair of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, is leading a team focused on recruiting and retaining women and other underrepresented students as computer science majors and minors.

University of Richmond Faculty Available to Discuss the Moon Landing; July Marks 50th Anniversary of Historic Event

July will mark the 50th anniversary of the United States' Apollo 11, the first manned mission to land on the moon in July 1969. University of Richmond has scholars who can share their expertise related to this historic anniversary from a variety of perspectives.

UR Math Professor Honored for Extraordinary Teaching

University of Richmond professor of mathematics Della Dumbaugh has received the John M. Smith Award for Distinguished College or University Teaching from the Mathematical Association of America’s Maryland, D.C., Virginia section.

UR Professor James Davis Awarded NSF Grant for Conference Series Focused on Intersection of Math and Communication

James Davis, professor of mathematics, has been awarded $25,000 from the National Science Foundation to support a conference series that explores mathematics critical to modern communication.

UR Launches First Website Dedicated to American Mathematics

The University of Richmond has launched AmericanMathematics.org, the first website dedicated to American mathematics.

UR Statistics Professor Taylor Arnold Receives International Fellowship for Research on How Language Changes Over Time

Taylor Arnold, an assistant professor of statistics, has been awarded a more than $36,000 fellowship to participate in the Collegium program at the Lyon Institute for Advanced Study in France.

Media Tip Sheet: University of Richmond Experts on the Moon Landing

University of Richmond has scholars who can share their expertise connected to the Moon Landing.

A hometown giftMike Kitimet, '19, used a Projects for Peace grant to open a library in his hometown. Read his story.

Math faculty and students attend WINRS at UVAMath professors Heather Russell and Della Dumbaugh chaired sessions at the Women’s Intellectual Network Research Symposium (WINRS) at UVA, where they were joined by UR students Barbara Fujita, Basel Arafat, Jonathan Rodriquez, Madeline Polhill, Ying Wu and Cathy Shi. Of special note, Basel presented his research the poster session and Ying and Cathy each gave a talk on their work on Solomon Lefschetz.

University of Richmond Professors Awarded $100,000 NEH Grant to Develop Software to Analyze Media's Cultural Influence

University of Richmond statistics professor Taylor Arnold and digital humanities professor Lauren Tilton have been awarded nearly $100,000 in grant funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities to develop software that will analyze how moving images such as film, television, and news broadcasts shape cultural norms.

University of Richmond junior receives Projects for Peace grant to create first library for school children in Kiserian, Kenya

University of Richmond junior Mike Kitimet grew up in a Kenyan town with no library. Despite this obstacle, he received support from Equity Group Foundation, a non-profit in Kenya, which helps academically talented students apply to colleges around the world.

2018 A&S David C. Evans Awards

The David C. Evans Awards recognize outstanding student scholarship and creative activity.

Ashley Alex, '18

Ashley Alex designed her interdisciplinary studies major around her research in Dr. Lester Caudill’s lab.

Resources

Library Research Guide

Contact Us

Mailing address:
Department of Math & Computer Science
212 Jepson Hall
221 Richmond Way
University of Richmond, VA 23173

Phone: (804) 289-8077
Fax: (804) 287-6444

Department Chair: Kathy Hoke
Mathematics Program Coordinator: Della Dumbaugh
Administrative coordinator: Kathy Rothert