The reputation of MU's mathematics department is growing at an exponential rate. We are already receiving national and international recognition for our efforts in teaching and research. Last year our faculty had more than 230 papers that were accepted or appeared in research journals, and they gave more than 100 invited addresses all over the world.
MU mathematics has gained such visibility at both the national and international levels, that many major international figures in mathematics request to visit our department.
We have been honored to have three postdoctoral fellows in the department and nine distinguished long-term visitors. Next year, we expect to have six postdoctoral fellows, as well as a host of visitors and three new faculty members, bringing our total to 55 mathematicians in the building. Please see the story in this issue on our new faculty hires - Michael J. Larsen, Ayelet Lindenstrauss and Konstantin Makarov.
The regional AMS meeting last November drew more than 300 mathematicians. In the past six years, more than 800 people have attended mathematics conferences at MU. The Show-Me Seminar received funding from the National Science Foundation and is attracting over 60 participants. Already, we have three conferences planned for next year, the Missouri Algebra Weekend, Oct. 18-19, and the 12th Annual Workshop on Automorphic Forms and Related Topics, scheduled Sunday through Wednesday of Spring Break 1998, and a conference on Continued Fractions, May 20 - 23, 1998.
The AMS Task Force on Excellence in Mathematics Scholarship chose our department as a prime example of a successful department and visited in the fall to use our success as a model for other departments. We also have a significant number of research grants in the department.
Last fall, we placed undergraduate math majors in Michigan, Princeton and MIT with full graduate scholarships. In curriculum changes, we introduced a new joint masters degree in mathematics and economics that is already attracting excellent students.
Each year our graduating seniors take the Educational Testing Service Major Field Test to assess departmental teaching and compare our students to students from 150 colleges and universities around the country. This year's test scores put us in the 99+ percentile compared to the other departments - a major affirmation of success in improving the quality of our undergraduate program.
Dan Lieman received a $200,000 CAREER grant from the NSF - one of only four such grants NSF awards in mathematics. The department received its second Kemper Excellence in Teaching Award when Peter Casazza was chosen for this honor that John Beem earned the previous year.
The 1996 October Leaders Conference was a major success because of the significant effort by our Leaders in Mathematics. Joining Math Leaders President Richard M. Miller were Thomas M. Hagemann, James E Hoffmeister and Dr. Louis Thomas Steyaert. Please read the Leaders story in this issue to learn how these alumni are assisting the department through their volunteerism.
It was a memorable year for the department because of the exceptional effort of the faculty, staff, graduate and undergraduate students. Dedicated staff members are an important part of the department, and I'm happy to report a recent promotion in that group - Bridget Kelly has been moved up to administrative associate II. Congratulations to her. It is all these people who brought about our success, accompanied by tremendous support and encouragement from the alumni, the University and the College of Arts and Science. It is my pleasure to chair this outstanding department.