Sixth-Year Students
Yue Ma
Working as a secondary school math teacher encouraged me to purse my M.A. in Educational Studies from University of Michigan. Then I started the PhD program in mathematics education because I am especially interested in how teachers and materials can better support student learning.
My current research focuses on how teachers direct students’ noticing by observing the teacher’s words, gestures, and the interaction with the materials. I am still open to any other related topics on mathematics education.
Fourth-Year Students
Rebecca Memmolo
After graduating from Appalachian State University with a B.S. in Elementary Education, I worked as a first-grade classroom teacher in Asheville, NC until earning my M.A. in Mathematics Education from the University of Maryland. While earning my degree, I served as a University Supervisor for Middle School Math and Science teacher candidates. Most recently, I worked as a middle school mathematics teacher in Wilmington, DE until I began at the University of Delaware in the Mathematics Education Ph.D. program. My experiences sparked my interest in the relationships teachers and students have with mathematics. Presently, my research interests are in mathematical identity, and specifically, how pre service teachers’ experiences as students in mathematics classrooms coalesce with their attitudes and beliefs towards mathematics teaching.
Third-Year Students
Allie Olshefke
After graduating from The University of Notre Dame with a B.S. in Physics, I taught twelfth-grade math in Atlanta while earning an M.Ed. through Notre Dame’s Alliance for Catholic Education Teaching Fellows program. I transitioned out of the classroom to pursue my passion for education research, and worked as both the Curriculum Developer and Evaluation & Research Assistant for a National Science Foundation Small Business Technology Transfer Project focused on integrating STEM and music in a 3rd-grade virtual camp setting. Before beginning the Ph.D. program at the University of Delaware, I worked as the Associate Research Director for the ACE Ascent Program in Notre Dame’s Institute for Educational Initiatives, which focuses on building up collective leadership models (including teacher leadership/coaching) in Catholic schools.
My emerging research interests include Calculus teaching and learning, particularly in the areas of task design and students’ construction of knowledge.
Second-Year Students
Osmond Amponsah Asiamah
After graduating from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana with a B.Ed. in Mathematics, I taught senior high school mathematics. Along the line, I obtained an M.Phil. in Mathematics Education from the same university. I then transitioned to the S.D.A. College of Education, Asokore-Koforidua to pursue my passion for teaching mathematics courses and mentoring the next generation of teachers, and with their rich pedagogical content knowledge, contribute to making mathematics learning interesting and meaningful to all learners.
These experiences motivated me to pursue a Ph.D. in Mathematics Education at the University of Delaware. My emerging research interests include working with teachers and students to enact mathematics lessons that foster students’ meaningful learning, especially in geometry.
Maggie Ellis
I graduated from the College of St. Benedict with a B.A. in Elementary Education. Then, I moved to New York City and taught 4th grade while working on my M.Ed. in Elementary Education through the University of Notre Dame’s Alliance for Catholic Education program. After graduating, I moved to Denver, CO and taught 4th/5th grade math and science for several years. While I loved working with kids, I grew to love working with pre-service and novice elementary teachers working as clinical faculty and supervisor for Notre Dame’s M.Ed. program during my summer breaks. These experiences inspired me to pursue a Ph.D. in Math Education at UD. My emerging research interests revolve around shifting negative math identity in elementary teachers, as well the qualities of effective methods courses and professional learning for beginning elementary teachers.
Abby Quick
I earned a B.S. in Psychology and a M.A. in Mathematics at American University. After finishing my master’s degree, I managed AU’s mathematics and statistics tutoring program, then taught mathematics and statistics at AU for four years. While I miss teaching, I decided to pursue a Ph.D. in Mathematics Education to deepen my understanding of the dynamics of education and contribute to math education research.
My research explores ways to improve students’ experiences in college math classes and to support all students in pursuing mathematics.
First-Year Students
Yuting Huang
My academic journey began with a BSc in Applied Statistics from Sun Yat-sen University, followed by a period teaching middle school mathematics. This practical experience led me to complete a MEd in Mathematics Education at the University of Hong Kong. Subsequently, I worked as a research assistant on projects focused on student learning, task design, and teacher professional development. These experiences further motivated me to pursue a PhD in Mathematics Education at the University of Delaware.
My research interests lie in students’ mathematical thinking and reasoning, which aims to explore how students develop conceptual understanding through innovative tasks and how teachers can effectively support this process.
Maya Josiah
I earned a BBA in Business Honors and Finance from the University of Texas at Austin. Prior to entering the classroom, I worked for 2 years in management consulting, focusing on serving education technology clients across the country. I then earned my Master’s in Education through the Urban Teaching Apprenticeship Program at the University of Pennsylvania. After completing my M.S.Ed., I spent 4 years as a middle school math teacher in Philadelphia. I developed my interest in the intersection of teacher education and math education over more than a decade of working in and with schools and teachers, and these interests and experiences led me to pursue a Ph.D. at UD in Math Education. My research interests are currently focused on vocational mathematics for educators – how all teachers can use math to improve their job experience.
Samuel Kenney
My research interests focus on making mathematics teaching and learning more practical and engaging. I hope to leverage Learner-generated diagrams, Newman error analysis, and Draft thinking and revising to help students overcome difficulties in mathematics and build confidence. I am passionate about producing research that informs curriculum development and teacher training in Ghana and internationally. Beyond academia, I enjoy public speaking and mentoring others, as I believe education has the power to transform lives and communities.
Former Students
Dr. Srujana Acharya – Educator, PGKM School, Pune, India
Dr. Allison Gantt – Lecturer, The College of New Jersey
Dr. Sümeyye Kurutaş – Post-Doctoral Researcher, Eindhoven University of Technology
Dr. Dr. Casey Griffin – Assistant Professor, University of La Verne
Dr. Ethan Smith – Assistant Professor, Washington State University, Tri-Cities
Dr. Kateri Sternberg – Post-Doctoral Researcher, University of Delaware
Dr. Amanda Mohamed Mirzaei – Assistant Professor, Manhattanville
University
Dr. Steve Silber – Instructor, Virginia Tech University
Dr. Laura Willoughby – Mathematics Teacher, Middletown High School
Dr. Julien Corven – Assistant Professor, Illinois State University
Dr. Kwaku Edusei – Instructor, International School Bangkok
Dr. Matthew Melville – Assistant Professor, Purdue University Fort Wayne
Dr. Kelly Curtis – Mathematics Instructional Specialist, School Success Center, University of Delaware
Dr. Kristin McKenney – Teacher, Cab Calloway School of the Arts
Dr. Jenifer Hummer – Associate Professor, West Chester University
Dr. Tony Mixell – Adjunct Professor, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
Dr. Joe DiNapoli – Associate Professor, Montclair State University
Dr. Siobahn Suppa – Associate Professor, Stockton University
Dr. Emily Miller – Associate Professor, West Chester University of Pennsylvania
Dr. Ali Marzocchi – Professor, California State University in Fullerton
Dr. Erin Meikle – Visiting Assistant Professor, University of Pittsburgh (retired)
Dr. Heather Gallivan – Associate Professor, University of Northern Iowa
Dr. Susanna Molitoris-Miller – Assistant Professor, Kutztown University
Dr. Taffy McAneny – Assistant Professor, West Chester University of Pennsylvania (retired)
Dr. Jathan Austin – Associate Professor, Salisbury University
Dr. Rob Wieman – Associate Professor, Rowan University
Dr. Nancy Dyson – Assistant Professor, University of Delaware
Dr. Eric Sisofo – Assistant Professor, University of Delaware
Dr. Corey Webel – Associate Professor, University of Missouri
Dr. Brian Bowen – Professor, West Chester State University
Dr. Christine Phelps-Gregory – Professor, Central Michigan University
Dr. Delayne Johnson – Associate Professor, Delaware State University
Dr. Sandy Spitzer – Professor & Director of M.S. in Math Education, Towson University
Dr. Lauren Goggins – Teacher, William Penn High School
Dr. James Beyers – Professor, The College of New Jersey
Dr. Rodney McNair – Professor, Delaware State University (retired)
Dr. Stephen Hwang – Research Associate, University of Delaware
Dr. Nicola Edwards – Associate Professor, Delaware State University
Dr. Yuichi Handa – Professor, University of California, Chico (retired)
Dr. Julie Cwikla – Professor, University of Southern Mississippi
Dr. Margaret Smith – Professor, Iona College
Dr. Theresa Grant – Professor, Western Michigan University
Dr. David Slavit – Professor, Washington State University
Header Photograph: “Longwood Gardens” by Dr. Amanda Jansen