Mathematics Department
Faculty
Elizabeth Denne
Department Head and Professor of Mathematics
- Chavis Hall 202
- Email: dennee@wlu.edu
- Phone: 540-458-8064
Denne teaches courses on geometry, topology, real analysis, linear algebra and calculus. Her research uses topological knot invariants to answer questions about the geometry of knots.
Kevin Beanland
Associate Dean of the College for Administration and Radford Professor of Mathematics
- Simpson House
- Email: beanlandk@wlu.edu
- Phone: 540-458-8747
Beanland is the Associate Dean of the College for Administrative Affairs and a professor of mathematics. His research specializes in Banach space theory, and he enjoys teaching across the curriculum, with particular interests in mathematical analysis and set theory.
James Broda
Assistant Professor of Mathematics
- Chavis Hall 113A
- Email: jbroda@wlu.edu
- Phone: 540-458-8805
Broda’s research interests include modelling of carbon content of ecosystems, population dynamics, catastrophes, stochastic processes and dynamical systems. His most recent scholarship has focused on employing statistical methods to study semi-stochastic processes.
Michael Bush
Professor of Mathematics
- Chavis Hall 201
- Email: bushm@wlu.edu
- Phone: 540-458-8801
Bush teaches a wide range of mathematics courses. He particularly enjoys teaching courses and mentoring undergraduate research projects in algebra, number theory and discrete mathematics. He also has an interest in recreational and contest mathematics and often helps students prepare for the annual William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition.
Hung Chu
Assistant Professor of Mathematics
- Chavis Hall 206
- Email: hchu@wlu.edu
- Phone: 540-458-8802
Chu teaches courses in analysis, linear algebra, and financial math. His research interests include approximation theory, combinatorics, and number theory, and he regularly collaborates with undergraduate students on research projects.
Cory Colbert
Associate Professor of Mathematics
- Chavis Hall 102
- Email: ccolbert@wlu.edu
- Phone: 540-458-8655
Colbert teaches courses on calculus, proof-writing, abstract algebra and commutative ring theory. His research focuses on understanding which geometric shapes correspond to certain algebraic structures.
Gregory Dresden
Professor of Mathematics
- Chavis Hall 114
- Email: dresdeng@wlu.edu
- Phone: 540-458-8806
Dresden teaches courses in calculus, abstract algebra, number theory, actuarial science and statistics. His research covers number theory and algebra, and he often writes papers with students.
Carrie Finch-Smith
Professor of Mathematics
- Chavis Hall 207
- Email: finchc@wlu.edu
- Phone: 540-458-8209
Finch-Smith teaches many courses including calculus, the art of mathematics, and algebra. Her research is in number theory, and she often works with students on research projects in a variety of topics.
Alan McRae
Cincinnati Professor in Mathematics
On Sabbatical Fall 2026
- Chavis Hall 305
- Email: mcraea@wlu.edu
- Phone: 540-458-8810
McRae teaches widely across the mathematics curriculum, with courses ranging from calculus, linear algebra, analysis, geometry, topology, and financial mathematics to first-year seminars and special topics courses on mathematical art, geometry, paradoxes in mathematics, fractal geometry, and general relativity. His teaching and research interests emphasize mathematics as a creative, visual, and conceptual discipline, connecting rigorous problem solving with geometry, logic, art, computation, history, and the broader liberal arts.
Jacob Migdail
Visiting Assistant Professor
- Chavis Hall 304
- Email: jmigdail-smith@wlu.edu
- Phone: 540-458-8033
Sybil Prince Nelson
Associate Professor of Mathematics
- Chavis Hall 204
- Email: sprincenelson@wlu.edu
- Phone: 540-458-4881
Prince Nelson ’01 teaches courses in calculus, probability and statistics. Her research is focused on creating tree-based models for classifying and predicting outcomes from complex data.
Sarah Petersen
Assistant Professor of Mathematics
- Chavis Hall 103
- Email: spetersen@wlu.edu
- Phone: 540-458-8808
Petersen teaches a variety of mathematics and data science courses. Her research focuses on computational aspects of algebraic topology. She particularly enjoys teaching interdisciplinary courses and mentoring undergraduate projects involving mathematics and art.
Chong Wang
Associate Professor of Mathematics
- Chavis Hall 301
- Email: cwang@wlu.edu
- Phone: 540-458-8099
Wang’s research interests include calculus of variations, mathematical modeling, scientific computing, partial differential equations, numerical analysis and high-performance computing.
Emeritus Faculty
Mike Evans
Emeritus Radford Professor of Mathematics
Professor Evans retired from W&L in July 2012.
Nathan Feldman
Emeritus Radford Professor of Mathematics
Professor Feldman retired from W&L in July 2024.
Tom Vinson
Emeritus Professor of Mathematics
Professor Vinson retired in 2009 after 42 years at W&L.
Staff
Wanda Childers
Administrative Assistant
- Chavis Hall 112
- Email: wchilders@wlu.edu
- Phone: 540-458-8804