Abstract: This lecture will be an invitation to begin imagining what the subject and teaching of mathematics would evolve into if we prioritized its value to everyday people all around the world. Such a revolution of the subject would not only require junior mathematicians' imagination; we will need you to solve the most difficult problems that have eluded us for centuries: organizing yourselves and your mathematics classes, building connections with the communities where you study and where you come from, and critically thinking about the structures of society the way we enjoy studying mathematical structures, to name a few. During the lecture, we will take some time for radical imagining, after discussing the historical and present-day context of why much of our (mathematical) education limits our imagination, and conclude with strategies for developing the tools necessary for collectively fighting towards a mathematics for the people.

About the Speaker: Ila Varma is an assistant professor at the University of Toronto with current research in a subfield of number theory known as arithmetic statistics. Ila is heavily involved in outreach, unlearning inequitable academic and teaching practices, and championing marginalised voices, ideas, and individuals within the mathematics community. In line with these values, she is the founder of a variety of mathematical activities across the globe, including PROMYS India, a free program for high school students, which takes place at IISc Bangalore and the Equity Forum, a seminar for all members of the mathematical community at University of Toronto.

Abstract: What do math and drag have in common? At first glance, not much, but Kyne Santos is here to show you otherwise! As a Filipino immigrant, math major, and world-renowned drag queen, Kyne’s story is proof that people can't be confined into rigid boxes. In this talk, Kyne shares how embracing her identity led to a double life of solving equations by day and slaying stages by night. Discover how math and drag are woven together by creativity, confidence, and most importantly, fun.

About the Speaker: Kyne Santos is a drag queen and math communicator with a BMath from the University of Waterloo. She makes popular math videos on social media for an audience of over 2 million followers.

Abstract: In graph theory, we model relationships between objects using mathematical structures called graphs. A graph, consisting of dots representing objects connected by lines to show that the objects are related, can be used to study many networks, from your friend group to the computer network at your school. In this talk, we will start by laying a basic foundation of definitions and examples in graph theory. We will then discuss examples related to recent research advances and related open problems.

About the Speaker: Aleyah Dawkins is a mathematician and currently a NSF MPS-Ascend Postdoctoral Fellow at Carnegie Mellon. She received her PhD in 2024 from George Mason University focusing in combinatorics. Aleyah is passionate about improving math proficiency and the math experience, especially for groups not often represented in mathematics. 

Abstract: In this talk we will introduce several basic notions of coding theory (including Linear Codes, Encoding and Decoding). We shall also mention elementary code constructions, such as Reed-Solomon code and present some REU research projects on Coding Theory.

About the Speaker: Fernando Pinero is an Assistant Professor at the University of Puerto Rico - Ponce. He received a B.Sc. and M.Sc. from the Unversity of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras and a Ph.D. from the Technical University of Denmark, all in mathematics. He was a postdoctoral fellow at the Indian Institute of Technology - Bombay. His research interests include codes from algebraic geometry, Tanner codes, generalized LDPC codes, and linear codes from algebraic graphs. He currently runs an REU with Dr. Pamela E. Harris on Algebraic Coding Theory and Combinatorics and is actively looking for bright underrepresented students who want to do math research.

Abstract: Seeing is believing. There are three axes of mathematical illustration: A picture can exposit mathematical ideas, aid in the discovery of new math, or be an avenue for artistic expression.  We will take a whirlwind tour though several areas of the field, and get acquainted with the varied goals, themes, mediums, and lots and lots of pictures. Many contributors to this field have little formal math training. All you need is a new perspective and some visual flair.

About the Speaker: Elliot (he/she) is a third year graduate student at UC Berkeley, studying mathematical physics. Elliot is also a mathematical artist, interested in capturing mathematical worlds through digital art.

Abstract: I will describe three different stochastic (i.e. time-evolving, random) models of natural phenomena: ballistic annihilation, chase-escape, and the frog model. For each model I will state some theorems (mostly proven with undergraduates) as well as a few simple sounding open problems.

About the Speaker: Dr. Junge is an Associate Professor at CUNY Baruch College. He uses probability to describe natural phenomena. Noteworthy accomplishments include coauthoring nineteen research articles with over forty undergraduates and teaching for three different college-in-prison programs.

Abstract: Ethical questions appear in many aspects of the practice of mathematics.  Some of the more readily apparent questions appear in the applications of mathematics, e.g., in questions around the handling and use of big data or the misuse of statistics, but important ethical questions also come up in more pure aspects of mathematics. In this crash course I will highlight a few areas where these questions appear and discuss their context.

About the Speaker: Matthew Cordes is an Assistant Professor at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland. His mathematical research is in the field of geometric group theory. He is also interested in the ethics of mathematics. He developed and led a seminar on the topic during his postdoc at ETH Zurich. He is also a member of the board of Spectra: the association of LGBTQ+ mathematicians.

Abstract: This talk is an introduction to applied and computational topology. The shape of a dataset often reflects important patterns within. Two such datasets with interesting shapes are a space of 3x3 pixel patches from optical images, which can be well-modeled by a Klein bottle, and the conformation space of the cyclo-octane molecule, which is a Klein bottle glued to a 2-sphere along two circles. I will introduce topological tools for visualizing, understanding, and performing machine learning tasks on high-dimensional datasets. 

About the Speaker: Henry Adams is a faculty member in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Florida. His research interests are in applied topology, combinatorial topology, computational geometry, and metric geometry, including applications to data analysis and to sensor networks. Henry is the Executive Director of the Applied Algebraic Topology Research Network (AATRN), whose YouTube channel has 8,000 subscribers and about 20 hours watched per day.

Abstract: What is it like to live in the spaces mathematicians study?  How do we build a geometry rich enough for our lived experience?  Mathematicians have been asking these questions for centuries, and there is still more to learn, both from within mathematics and from sources mathematicians haven't traditionally considered.  My journey on this was sparked by an encounter between math and dance, between the ideas of mathematician Bill Thurston and the questions and investigations of choreographer Reggie Wilson, but to begin to understand these ideas, I want to take the through a circle of questions initiated 170 years ago by the German mathematician Bernhard Riemann.  Where Euclid began by considering constructions at arbitrary scales, Riemann asked what an observer could measure in nearby regions.  With this seemingly small shift, Riemann initiated a radical expansion in our conceptions of space, one that set the stage for Einstein's theory of general relativity and all that comes after, and one which continues to lead mathematicians (and others) into strange and unfamiliar new worlds. In this talk, using Riemann's original writing, state of the art visualizations, and thought experiments due to Thurston and Wilson, I will try to lead the audience through the doors Riemann opened and into some of these new worlds that we are still actively exploring and seeking to understand.

About the Speaker: Jesse Wolfson is an associate professor of mathematics at the University of California, Irvine where he also serves as vice chair of inclusive excellence for the math department and co-director of the Southern California Geometry and Topology Center.  His research focuses on long-standing open problems at the interface of algebra, geometry and topology.  His perspective on geometry emerges in part from his long-running exchange with choreographer Reggie Wilson. He also currently serves on the board of directors of Wilson's Fist and Heel Performance Group, an internationally acclaimed Brooklyn based "Post-African neo-hoodoo modern dance company."

Abstract: In this workshop we will discuss how faculty can serve as advocates for all students and in particular for students who have been historically marginalized in mathematics. We will leave with some action plans that faculty can implement immediately. Come ready to share and get to work! 

About the Speaker: Dr. Pamela E. Harris, a Mexican-American mathematician, is Professor of Mathematics at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She holds a B.S. from Marquette University and M.S. and Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Specializing in algebraic combinatorics, Dr. Harris has authored over 90 peer-reviewed research articles. She is a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society and the Association for Women in Mathematics. She received the 2022 MAA Deborah and Franklin Tepper Haimo Award for Excellence in Mathematical Education, the 2020 MAA Northeast Section Award for Distinguished College or University Teaching, the 2019 MAA Henry L. Alder Award for Distinguished Teaching by a Beginning College or University Mathematics Faculty Member, and the 2019 Council on Undergraduate Research Mathematics and Computer Sciences Division Early Career Faculty Mentor Award. Dr. Harris is also the President and co-founder of Lathisms: Latinxs and Hispanics in the Mathematical Sciences.

Abstract: In this workshop, we'll discuss common hurdles encountered by disabled students in college math courses, as well as strategies for designing and modifying classes to make them more accessible to students with disabilities and/or chronic illnesses. A small portion of the workshop will involve US-specific content, but most of it will be broadly applicable, and no particular background is assumed. Participants are encouraged to bring a syllabus from a course they've recently taught, TAed, or otherwise been involved in. 

About the Speaker: Allison N. Miller is an assistant professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Swarthmore College, a small liberal arts college outside of Philadelphia, PA. Her research involves knots, surfaces, and 3- and 4-manifolds, and some of her favorite classes to teach are linear algebra, mathematics and social justice, and topology.

Abstract: To be announced

About the Speaker: Dr. Imani Masters Goffney currently works as an Assistant Professor of Mathematics Education in the Center for Mathematics Education at the University of Maryland- College Park. She earned her BA from Spelman College, and then her MA in Curriculum Development and PhD in Mathematics Education and Teaching and Teacher Education both from the University of Michigan. Her research focuses on mathematics instruction and on interventions designed to improve its quality and effectiveness, especially for students not traditionally served well by our educational system. In particular, she studies the ways in which teachers use mathematical knowledge for teaching in equitable ways. Her research contributes to a growing body of work that strives to better understand the role of content knowledge for improving student achievement and expands an understanding of how issues of race, culture, and social class intersect with students’ opportunities for learning mathematics.  She currently collaborates as an investigator on several EF+Math projects, working especially closely with MathicSTEAM led by the MIND Research Institute, and has served as the primary Equity-in-Action consultant for the EF+Math Program and leadership team (www.efmathprogram.org). In addition to her work on EF+Math, she manages her own and collaborates with others on multiple research projects with funding from NSF (Equity and MOST, Co-Learning, etc.) and private foundations. She co-edited a book published by NCTM entitled, Re-humanizing Mathematics for Black, Indigenous, and Latinx Students (2018). She is an active member in AERA, NCTM, and AMTE having served in leadership roles in each of these organizations.

Abstract: In this workshop we will discuss belonging and mathematical belonging in the classroom, exploring their differences and why both are essential for creating an inclusive and supportive learning environment. We will share strategies for bridging course content and student context, helping students see their own interests, identities, beliefs, and cultures reflected in mathematics. Bring your experiences, ideas, and a willingness to collaborate!

About the Speaker: Alex Wiedemann is an Assistant Professor of Mathematics and Computational Data Science at Hamline University. His expertise is rooted in dynamical systems with applications in complexity theory, data science, and social justice. Alex is also deeply committed to advancing diversity and inclusivity in mathematics and developing teaching and research practices that better support students from underrepresented groups. He is a senior researcher with the Data Science, Police Accountability, and Community Engagement (DSPACE) Group at the QSIDE Institute and currently serves as Chair of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility for Spectra, The Association of LGBTQ+ Mathematicians.

About the Speaker: Claudio Gómez-Gonzáles is a fourth-year Assistant Professor of Mathematics at Carleton College. Before that, they were a Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of California Irvine (with Jesse Wolfson), a graduate student at the University of Chicago (with Benson Farb), and an undergraduate at New Mexico Tech. Their research is in the topology and arithmetic of spaces of polynomials, with interests in mathematical history, sociology, and visualization. Claudio is the deputy editor of MAA's FOCUS newsmagazine, and hopes to emphasize the interplay of mathematical labor and institutions with questions of sustainability (mathematical and otherwise).

About the Speaker: Dr. Gizem Karaali is originally from Istanbul, Turkey, where she received undergraduate degrees in electrical engineering and mathematics. She got her PhD in mathematics from the University of California Berkeley and is currently a professor at Pomona College. Karaali's research lies in the representation theory of Lie superalgebras, super quantum groups, and algebraic combinatorics. Her scholarly interests include humanistic mathematics, pedagogy, and quantitative literacy, as well as social justice implications of mathematics and mathematics education.

About the Speaker: Dr. Selvi Kara is a Turkish mathematician and an assistant professor of mathematics at Bryn Mawr College. She earned her PhD from Tulane University in 2017 and her research focuses on problems at the intersection of algebra, combinatorics, and geometry.  Selvi is one of the co-founders of Meet a Mathematician and she is deeply committed to fostering inclusive spaces in mathematics. She works to center mathematicians and students from historically excluded backgrounds, amplifying their voices and experiences within mathematical communities.

About the Speaker: Mathilde Gerbelli-Gauthier is a mathematician originally from Montreal, Canada, and currently an assistant professor at the University of Toronto, where she works in number theory, specifically in automorphic representations. She got her BSc from McGill University and her PhD from the University of Chicago, where she was involved with Graduate Students United. She is interested in developing a sustainable academia, and in the role of scientists and mathematicians in building a more just society. 

About the Speaker: My mathematical interests started at a community college in California. From there, I transferred to the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff where I graduated in 2017 with a Bachelors degree in Mathematics. Before starting my graduate degree at the University of Colorado, Denver, I was a part of the first Post-Baccalaureate program at Iowa State University. In 2022, I graduated at CU Denver with a MS in Applied Mathematics with an emphasis in Statistics. With the help of my cohort at CU Denver, we started a student chapter for the Association of Women in Mathematics. Currently I work for the U.S. Energy Information Administration, specializing in energy related research and statistical survey methods.  

About the Speaker: Tarik is an associate professor of mathematics at Haverford College, specializing in geometry, topology, and group theory. He did his PhD at Yale, and then taught at Brown for a few years before moving to Haverford where he's been for the last 5 years. Tarik is a founding member of the Just Mathematics Collective. Currently, the collective is focusing on a BDS campaign to boycott Israeli academic institutions complicit in the ongoing Palestinian genocide -- open to all scientists including undergraduates, and a campaign aimed at the unhealthy connections between professional mathematics and the national security state (open to all mathematicians, including undergraduates). These days, Tarik spends a lot of time thinking about hyperbolic geometry, dynamics and counting problems in geometry/topology, and organizing scientists towards using our expertise in service of the Palestinian nation and in opposition to US empire.  

About the Speaker: Aris Winger is an associate professor of mathematics at Georgia Gwinnett College. His current work centers around creating spaces where marginalized groups feel a sense of belonging in mathematics and STEM. This mission has led him to co-authoring a book series Advocating for Students of Color in Mathematics and conducting numerous professional learning workshops and consulting around the United States, working with educators and administrators at all levels.  These experiences compelled him to open a school, Hybridge Academy, a non-traditional accredited school in the greater Atlanta area serving marginalized middle and high school students, of which he is a Co-Founder and Co-Director. He currently serves as the Executive Director of the National Association of Mathematicians. He has a Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics from Howard University (1998), a Master's of Science in the Mathematical Sciences from Carnegie Mellon University (2000) and Doctorate of Philosophy in the Mathematical Sciences from Carnegie Mellon University (2005).

About the Speaker: Fostering inclusivity and diversity, and advocating for mathematics and computer science education as lifelong fundamental rights for all ages, are central to Erika's work. By blending outreach, research, and open science—and harnessing the transformative power of art as a bridge—they strive to connect academia with society, empowering individuals to actively engage in and shape the future of STEAM.

How can we make mathematics and computer science engaging and accessible to all? This talk explores how gamification transforms research into an inclusive and participatory experience, drawing on examples from discrete and computational geometry and topology. By breaking barriers through open and creative approaches, gamification not only democratizes STEAM but also empowers diverse communities to actively engage with and advance scientific knowledge.

About the Speaker: Juliette is an assistant professor in the Department of Mathematics at Dartmouth College. Her research interests lie in algebraic geometry, commutative algebra, and arithmetic geometry. In particular, she is interested in using homological and combinatorial methods to study the geometry of zero loci of systems of polynomials (i.e. algebraic varieties). She is passionate about promoting inclusion, diversity, and justice in mathematics.

In 2020, Juliette received her Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where her advisor was Daniel Erman. Previously she was a postdoctoral fellow at MSRI (2020-2021), an NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Mathematics at the University of California, Berkeley (2020-2022), and a postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Mathematics at Brown University (2022-2024). She was the president of Spectra: The Associate for LGBTQ+ Mathematicians in 2022.

About the Speaker: Fatima Akinola is a 4th year PhD student of Mathematics, at the University of Florida.  Her current research lies particularly in the area of Geometric Graph Theory. She holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from her home country, Nigeria, and two master's degrees in mathematics, from the University of Florida and Marshall University, West Virginia. She also recently published her work from Marshall University in the Elsevier journal of 'Discrete Mathematics' and has actively presented her findings at conferences, contributing to the advancement of knowledge.

About the Speaker: Katie Waddle was a high school math teacher in San Francisco for 8 years before coming back to graduate school in math.  She cares deeply about making math a more inclusive and welcoming place.  She is now in her 5th year of a PhD at the University of Michigan, where she runs the student chapter of the Association for Women in Math.

About the Speaker: Heather Pierce is originally from a small town in Texas, but spent the past 15 years working at Emmanuel College in Boston. She recently moved to Northern New Mexico College to be closer to family. She spends her time and energy focused on easy access to math education for everyone. She has a BS in Math from Baylor University, an MS degree in Knot Theory from University of Texas, and an MS degree in Geometric Group Theory from Tufts University.  

Brief description of MathILy-Er: MathILy-Er is an intensive residential summer program for mathematically excellent secondary students.  Similar to MathILy, MathILy-Er is designed for students with an insatiable curiosity about mathematics, and who are creative and enthusiastic in their approaches to learning, but is adapted for students who are slightly earlier in their chronology or mathematical development. 

About the Speaker: Alice is a Senior Lecturer at Vanderbilt University, and Director of Teaching for the Vanderbilt Math Department.  Her work there is focused on student success in intro-level gateway courses.  She has spent the last 10 summers as an instructor at MathILy-Er, and was Director for 5 of those summers.  Her mathematical interests are usually geometric, and she loves being able to hand people physical objects that make some abstract idea concrete.  She lives in Nashville with her two cats who have been with her since grad school.

Brief Description of MSRI-UP: MSRI-UP is a  comprehensive summer program designed for undergraduate  students who  have completed two years of college mathematics courses and would like to conduct research in the mathematical sciences. The program  has a strong record cultivating talent, especially among students from groups underrepresented in the mathematical sciences, by offering participants meaningful research opportunities, the necessary skills and knowledge to participate in successful collaborations, and a community of academic peers and mentors who can advise, encourage, and support them through a successful graduate program. MSRI-UP was recognized by the American Mathematical Society with the 2021 Mathematics Programs that Make a Difference Award.

About the Speaker: Mercedes Franco is a professor in the Mathematics and Computer Science Department at Queensborough Community College. She has a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics with a minor in Computer Science from Cornell University. She is co-PI and co-Director of the NSF-funded Center for Undergraduate Research in Mathematics (CURM) and co-PI and co-Director of the NSF-REU program MSRI-UP. Both programs address issues of underrepresentation in the mathematical sciences. Mercedes is a member of the Queensborough team that worked to establish an AAC&U Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation Campus Center where she also serves as a racial healing circle facilitator. She is trained on “Giving Voice to the Voiceless: Teaching for Justice and Peace” by Herstory Writers Workshop and the Humanities Institute at Stony Brook University and has experience  facilitating Herstory writing workshops for college and high school students. 

About the Speaker: Alvaro immigrated to the U.S. from Peru at age 18. He began his college journey as a business major at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, but he eventually discovered his true passion for mathematics and switched to a math degree. With the support of friends and mentors, Alvaro earned a BS in Mathematics and went on to pursue a research master’s in math at the University of Waterloo, intending to continue into a PhD. However, halfway through his program, he changed career paths to join the urgent fight against climate change. He is now pursuing a PhD in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at MIT, where his research focuses on developing resilient electric grids capable of handling higher levels of renewable energy and withstanding more extreme weather patterns.

About the Speaker: Hi. I'm Roshni (they/she), a graduate student in philosophy at the University of Oxford. In the past four years, I did research in discrete math and combinatorics at Brown, Northwestern, and Stanford, and also obtained degrees in mathematics, philosophy, political science, and computer science at Stanford University. My primary research interest is epistemology, the study of knowledge. I am interested in both the more philosophical side of epistemology, esp. social epistemology and metaepistemology, and the more mathematical side, esp. epistemic logic and Bayesian epistemology. I am particularly excited about projects which bridge these two worlds, recasting mathematical relationships in philosophical terms and vice versa.

About the Speaker: Nataya is a second-year PhD student in Mathematics at North Carolina State University. She earned her bachelor's degree in Mathematics with a Computer Science minor from Juniata College. Her academic interests encompass Algebra, Graph Theory, and Topology. Alongside her studies, she serves as a Teaching Assistant and mentors undergraduate students. Nataya aspires to pursue a career in industry, working in an interdisciplinary environment where she can help professionals from various fields apply mathematics to their work. Outside of academia, she enjoys going on walks, composing music, and playing video games with friends.

About the Speaker: Elisabeth Howard is a recent graduate of the Iowa State University’s Post-Baccalaureate Program in Mathematics. She earned her BA from Hamilton College in 2020, and was a double major in Mathematics and Painting. As an undergraduate, she participated in an REU at Elon University, the Director’s Summer Program at the NSA, and the Science Undergraduate Laboratory Research Internship for the Department of Energy. During the semester, she was the head mathematics tutor for Hamilton’s tutoring center. Between her undergraduate and post-baccalaureate studies, she spent two years teaching high school math and physics. 

About the Speaker: Kira (she/her) is a first-year PhD student in Computational Biology and Biomedical Informatics at Yale University, where she combines computational and data-driven research methods with applications in biology and medicine. Originally from Germany, Kira moved to the United States at age 17 to attend Emmanuel College in Boston, earning a BS in Mathematics and Biostatistics in 2024. During her undergraduate years, she explored diverse research projects and discovered her passion for computational biology with the guidance of supportive mentors. Kira’s current research focuses on somatic mutations in various contexts, including their selective pressures and roles in driving cancer progression, their influence on immunotherapy responses in kidney cancer, and non-inherited mutational links to autism spectrum disorder in the brain. 

About the Speaker: Derek Chen is a first-year PhD student at The Ohio State University. They graduated from Yale University, where they majored in math. During his undergraduate years, Derek participated in the directed reading program at his university, and also the Polymath Jr. REU. They have also been a camp counselor at the Ross Mathematics Program in 2022, 2023, and 2024.