Again this year, the mathematics department won the competition for the next phase of enhancement and will receive two new positions, one in mathematical finance and one in mathematical encryption as well as a new postdoctoral position in each of those areas. These new positions, to be filled during the next three years, will bring the faculty to 45.
The department was among the first recipients of University enhancement funds provided in 1990 to programs with the potential to become nationally and internationally competitve.
Early enhancement funding allowed the department to expand its faculty from 27 to 40 during the period 1991 to 1999. In 1999, the department applied for a second round of enhancement. By aligning with the College of Education, the Department of Economics and with Computer Engineering and Computer Science, the department again won enhancement funds.
Last year the department hired Asma Harcharras as an education specialist, Bill Banks in number theory/cryptography and Allanus Tsoi in mathematical finance, bringing the faculty to 43. The department received three postdoctoral positions.