Welcome and welcome back!!
Dear Students,
Welcome (or welcome back!) to the 2025/26 academic year in the Mathematics Department! Whether you're just beginning your journey at Siena or returning to continue it, we’re excited to have you with us and look forward to a year filled with curiosity, growth, and discovery.
We’d like to take a moment to express our deep gratitude to Dr. Mohammad Javaheri for his dedicated service as department chair over the past several years. His leadership and commitment have helped shape the supportive environment we all benefit from today. We’re also pleased to announce that Dr. Scott Greenhalgh is stepping into the role of department chair.
Other math happenings around campus also include the launch of the Math Center. The Math Center is a resource for Siena students who need assistance with a variety of quantitative and mathematical skills and habits for success. The center, who is directed by Dr. de Wolf, will offer a variety of drop-in tutoring, targeted help hours, and individual tutoring, among other resources.
Dr. Emelie Kenney recipient of the Spirit of Siena/AMC Faculty award
A special shoutout to Dr. Kenney, who was voted the faculty member who "embodies the ideals of humanism at the core of the Siena/AMC Program and for support of the program students" by the 2025 Siena/AMC program graduates. The award was presented by seniors Safiya Alvi, BIBA '25, and Thea Akhrass, BIBA '24, who spoke about how Dr. Kenney would check in with them personally even long after they were her students and how her bright spirit and joyful demeanor were an important part of their Siena experience. Congrats, Dr. Kenney!!
Dr. Scott Greenhalgh awarded CUR -- Mathematical, Computing + Statistical Sciences Mentor Award.
The CUR mentorship award honors mentors for their success in mentoring undergraduate students in research. Dr. Greenhalgh was selected for the mid-career award by CUR division councilors, specifically for enabling student collaborations in infectious disease modelling.
Dr. Tosun awarded Presidential Award for Excellence!
Dr. Tosun was awarded Siena's 2024 Presidential Award for Excellence by President Seifert. For those in the know, Dr. Tosun regularly goes above and beyond to support the Siena community, with his incredible leadership in the Math department and work with DataFest serving as prime examples. Congratulations!
@Siena math ENHANCES scientific inquiry
This past summer, a record number of students contributed to research and scholarship in mathematics. While the disciplines and projects of each student varied, hard work, laughs, and good times were had by all:
@Siena math meets pop culture:
For further details see the SCoop write-up available here, or check out the student reports on the origins of zombies and cost-effective ways to prevent uprisings, or watch a video presentation.
DataFest @ Siena
At ASA DataFest, you’ll get a chance to get creative with data, mingle with professionals from industry and academia, and compete for prizes and glory! And, we’ll be providing free food throughout the weekend!
Over the course of the weekend, you will work in teams to find meaning from a large, rich, and complex dataset. Consultants who are faculty and industry professionals will be available to assist you.
Contact Kursad Tosun at ktosun@siena.edu with any questions.
Real-world applications of mathematics to model the spread of COVID-19 and a tick-borne illness were the subjects of two separate research projects by CURCA summer scholars. For details see the write-up here
Find out by minoring in the NEW statistics minor, which will start in Fall 2020. The new minor provides students with tools commonly used in statistical analysis and the interpretation of data. Therefore, the new minor is a perfect complement to quantitative majors, such as Data Science, Actuarial Science, Biology, and Math, among many many others. A special thanks goes out to Dr. Tosun for developing the program.
The Department of Mathematics is happy to share the news that 3 new math courses have been approved. The courses, which focus on Regression analysis (MATH 372), Advanced Statistical Methods (MATH 375), and Fundamental Topics in Applied Math (MATH 399), are all slated for roll out sometime soon!
Public health policies have mixed results depending on the infectious disease. Face coverings, for example, have flattened the curve against COVID-19, but they will be of little use during a zombie outbreak. For details on how to survive, click here
