Mathematics Department
Faculty
Alan McRae
Department Head, Mathematics; Professor of Mathematics
- Chavis Hall 305
- Email: mcraea@wlu.edu
- Phone: 540-458-8810
McRae teaches mathematics courses on calculus, derivatives and number theory. He also helped found the Math Center, which helps any student in entry-level calculus.
Aaron Abrams
Professor of Mathematics
On leave AY 2024-25
- Chavis Hall 301
- Email: abramsa@wlu.edu
- Phone: 540-458-8802
Abrams teaches courses on the dimensions of art and math. His research combines geometry, topology, group theory, combinatorics and probability. His current research pertains to tilting of a square by triangles and rectangles.
Sima Ahsani
Visiting Assistant Professor of Mathematics
- Chavis Hall 304
- Email: sahsani@wlu.edu
- Phone: 540-458-8033
Kevin Beanland
Associate Dean of the College for Administration and Professor of Mathematics
- Simpson House
- Email: beanlandk@wlu.edu
- Phone: 540-458-8808
Beanland teaches a variety of mathematics courses but specializes in mathematical analysis. His primary research area is Banach space theory, on which he has published several scholarly papers.
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
Associate Professor of Mathematics
- Chavis Hall 201
- Email: bushm@wlu.edu
- Phone: 540-458-8801
Professor 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.
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.
Elizabeth Denne
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.
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.
Kumudu Gamage
Visiting Assistant Professor of Mathematics
- Chavis Hall 103
- Email: kgamage@wlu.edu
- Phone: 540-458-8808
Chawne Kimber
Dean of the College and Professor of Mathematics
- Simpson House
- Email: ckimber@wlu.edu
- Phone: 540-458-8746
In addition to her duties as Dean of the College at W&L, Kimber is a member of the Mathematics Department faculty. Her research interests include ordered rings and groups.
Jacob Migdail-Smith
Visiting Assistant Professor
- Chavis Hall 301
- Email: jmigdail-smith@wlu.edu
- Phone: 540-458-8802
Sybil Prince Nelson
Assistant 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.
Chong Wang
Assistant Professor of Mathematics
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
Nathan Feldman
Emeritus Radford Professor of Mathematics
Feldman teaches calculus, linear algebra, statistics, and analysis courses. For research, he uses real analysis and complex analysis techniques to study infinite matrices.
Staff
Wanda Childers
Administrative Assistant
- Chavis Hall 112
- Email: wchilders@wlu.edu
- Phone: 540-458-8804