August 01, 2008

Congratulations to Donna Molinek for her promotion to (Full) Professor and for her new position as Chair of the Department of Mathematics, effective August 1, 2008.  Over the last few years, Professor Molinek has been active in service, research, and teaching.  She led several College subcommittees and programs, including the Davidson in Ghana Summer Program.  Dr. Molinek collaborated in her field of dynamical systems and applications, as exemplified by her recent publication (with another accepted) on cellular automata that are used to model the spread of HIV in a lymph node.  In teaching, she developed a new version of MAT 118, Exploring Mathematics in Art, as well as continued her devotion to July Experience, Topology, Dynamical Systems, and Modeling.

Outgoing Chair Rich Neidinger served for five years in the position.  Professor Neidinger thought it was a harder job than it looks, although it was rewarding to help keep the department running smoothly and fulfilling its mission.  Department members have made it five great years of teamwork, accented by their awards, grants, and promotions, and by hiring the newest professor Sarah Mason.  Neidinger also observed an upswing in undergraduate research and students going on to graduate school in mathematics.  For non-majors, MAT 118 (Exploring Mathematical Ideas) has increased from Neidinger's first section, just before becoming Chair, to usually three sections per year.  In his administrative work, Neidinger is proud of how he has continued and enhanced the record keeping and organization handed to him from previous Chair Stephen Davis.

Posted By: Rich Neidinger