Mathematics

Department Head: Alan McRae; mcraea@wlu.edu; 540-458-8804

Academic Division: The College

We offer both a major and a minor in mathematics, and we encourage students with a wide range of interests to explore our courses. Mathematics naturally pairs with many other fields; many mathematics majors also study finance, economics, computer science, biochemistry, or other sciences.

The study of mathematics has provided many opportunities for recent majors. They have pursued careers as analysts with consulting firms, as actuaries, as financial analysts in the banking and finance arenas, as teachers, and as software developers. Other majors have pursued advanced degrees in mathematics, statistics, computer science, economics, engineering, law, and medicine.

During their four years at W&L, mathematics majors gain a mastery of fundamental areas of mathematics such as single and multi-variable calculus, linear algebra, modern abstract algebra, real and complex analysis, ordinary and partial differential equations, geometry, topology, mathematical statistics, discrete mathematics, graph theory, and other topics.

(Society of the Cincinnati Foundation)

Advanced Standing: In mathematics, qualified first-year students may take a University-administered examination during the summer prior to the beginning of the fall term in order to qualify for college credit in MATH 101 - Calculus I . Specific information will be sent to all incoming students as part of their summer registration materials.

HONORS: An Honors Program in mathematics is offered for well-qualified majors; see department head for details.

Offerings

Mathematics, B.A.  

Mathematics, B.S.  

Mathematics minor  

Faculty

First date is the year in which the faculty member began service as regular faculty at the University. Second date is the year of appointment to the present rank.

Sima Ahsani, Ph.D.—(2023)-2023
Visiting Assistant Professor of Mathematics
Ph.D., Auburn University

Kevin J. Beanland, Ph.D.—(2013)-2018
Professor of Mathematics
Ph.D., University of South Carolina, Columbia

Michael R. Bush, Ph.D.—(2012)-2025
Professor of Mathematics
Ph.D., University of Illinois

Hung Viet Chu, Ph.D.—(2025)-2025
Assistant Professor of Mathematics
Ph.D., University Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Cory Colbert, Ph.D.—(2018)-2024
Associate Professor of Mathematics
Ph.D., University of Texas, Austin

Elizabeth J. Denne, Ph.D.—(2012)-2022
Professor of Mathematics
Ph.D., University of Illinois

Gregory P. Dresden, Ph.D.—(1997)-2010
Professor of Mathematics
Ph.D., University of Texas

Carrie E. Finch-Smith, Ph.D.—(2007)-2019
Professor of Mathematics
Ph.D., University of South Carolina

Alan McRae, Ph.D.—(1997)-2009
Professor of Mathematics
Ph.D., State University of New York, Stony Brook

Jacob Migdail, Ph.D.—(2024)-2024
Visiting Assistant Professor of Mathematics
Ph.D., Syracuse University

Sybil Prince Nelson, Ph.D.—(2020)-2020
Assistant Professor of Mathematics
Ph.D., Medical University of South Carolina

Chong Wang, Ph.D.—(2021)-2021
Assistant Professor of Mathematics
Ph.D., The George Washington University

Kursat Yilmaz, Ph.D.—(2025)-2025
Visiting Assistant Professor of Mathematics
Ph.D., University of Toledo