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Dr. Nathaniel Whitaker
Dr. Nathaniel Whitaker
Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Fluid Mechanics, Math Biology, Numerical Analysis
Nathaniel Whitaker is a professor of mathematics and statistics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst where he began his academic career as an assistant professor in 1987. His research interests are broad. They include fluid mechanics, math biology, mathematical physics, and numerical bifurcation theory. His awards and honors include AMS Einstein Public Lecture, NAM Clayton-Woodard Lecture, UMass System-Wide Presidents Award for Public Service, and the UMass Commitment to Diversity Award. He has served on many prestigious national committees in mathematics. He has served as department head since 2018, excluding a year where he served as acting Dean of the College of Natural Sciences. He received a BA from Hampton Institute in Economics, a MS in Mathematics from the University of Cincinnati and a PhD in Mathematics from the University of California Berkeley.
Dr. Vanessa Hill
Dr. Vanessa Hill
Dr. Vanessa Hill is a math professor at Springfield Technical Community College. As a STEM educator her professional passions have always resided in education, most especially focused on serving students who are most at risk in navigating the system. She received her bachelor’s in mathematics from Mount Holyoke College. A master’s degree in mathematics from the University of Connecticut and her PhD in Mathematical Education from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. In addition to teaching at her current institution, Dr. Hill spent over 10 years working with students of color in STEM at the University of Massachusetts, running their Summer Research Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) as well as the NIH funded Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) and with PhD students throughout the sciences. Dr. Hill has also been very involved in DEI (Diversity Equity and Inclusion) efforts both at her college and abroad. She has served as a coach, workshop facilitator, and keynote speaker.
Dr. Ileana Vasu
Dr. Ileana Vasu
Dr. Ileana Vasu is a professor and chair of mathematics at Holyoke Community College (HCC) and a STEM educator, researcher and consultant. This conference is a result of a sabbatical project centered on equity in STEM that Professor Vasu received from HCC.
Dr. Vasu was the 2016 recipient of the Elaine Marieb Faculty Chair for Teaching Excellence Award. Her interests include STEM education, implications for diversity and inclusion in STEM spaces, promoting, researching and advancing culturally responsive teaching and mentoring. She is also passionate about mathematics and promoting teaching with inquiry. She has worked as Principal Investigator on two notable S-STEM grants. Of these, the current grant, STEM Cohorts for Research and Engagement (SCoRE), focuses on embedding culturally responsive practices in program interventions. Dr. Vasu has designed and facilitated workshops focused on culturally responsive pedagogy and mentoring specifically designed for STEM faculty and STEM programs. Regionally, Dr. Vasu is one of the founders of the New England Community for Mathematics Inquiry in Teaching, NE-COMMIT, a community of more than 200 college and K-12 mathematics educators from New England advocating for active and inquiry oriented teaching.
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