CURRICULUM VITAE:
FRANCIS EDWARD SU

FULL PROFESSOR (2006- )
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR (2002-2006 )
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR (1996-2002)
Department of Mathematics, Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, CA 91711

MEMBER (2003)
Mathematical Sciences Research Institute, Berkeley, CA 94720

VISITING ASSISTANT PROFESSOR (2000)
School of Operations Research, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
 

EDUCATION:

HARVARD UNIVERSITY,  Cambridge, MA.
Ph.D. in Mathematics, June 1995.
Dissertation: Methods for Quantifying Rates of Convergence for Random Walks on Groups.
Advisor: Persi Diaconis.

THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN,  Austin, TX.
B.S. in Mathematics, May 1989, with Highest Honors and Special Honors in Mathematics.
GPA 3.98.
Graduated at age 19.
 

HONORS:

  • 2004 Henry L. Alder Award for Distinguished Teaching, awarded by the Mathematical Association of America.
  • Iris and Howard Critchell Assistant Professor, 2000-2001 (endowed junior faculty chair).
  • 2001 Merten M. Hasse Prize (for outstanding mathematical exposition) awarded by the Mathematical Association of America.
  • Cornell University INFORMS/IIE Teaching Excellence Award, 2000.
  • Nominee, Harvard University Levenson Award for Teaching Excellence, 1996.
  • Derek Bok Center Award for Distinction in Teaching, 1994, 1995, 1996.
  • National Science Foundation Graduate Fellow, 1989-1992.
  • UT Vandiver Award for Excellence in Algebra and Number Theory, 1989.
  • UT Junior Fellow, 1987-1989.
  • UT Endowed Presidential Scholar, 1987-88.
  • Phi Beta Kappa, junior inductee Fall 1987.
  • UT Arnold J. Romberg Distinguished Scholastic Achievement Award in Physics, 1986.
  • Nelda C. and H.J. Lutcher Stark Foundation Scholar, 1985-89.
  • Texas UIL Competitions: Science (2nd place in State), Number Sense (3rd Place in State), 1985.

    RESEARCH INTERESTS:
    Geometric combinatorics: triangulations of polytopes, combinatorial fixed point theorems, and applications to mathematical economics.
    Probability: random walks on groups, discrepancy of sequences and probability distributions.

    OTHER EXPERIENCE:

    TEACHING CONSULTANT, Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning, Harvard University (9/94 - 6/96).
    RESIDENT TUTOR IN MATHEMATICS, Kirkland House, Harvard University (1990-96).

    PAPERS:

    Click here to see my papers and preprints.

    GRANTS:

  • National Science Foundation Research Award, 2003-2006 Combinatorial Fixed Point Theorems, Polytopes, and Fair Division, $146,640.
  • Mellon Foundation, 2000-2001, A Web-based Archive of Mathematical Fun Facts, part II, $7,200.
  • Mellon Foundation, 1999-2000, A Web-based Archive of Mathematical Fun Facts, $4,300.
  • Beckman Research Award, 1999-2000, Fair Division Algorithms: Theory and Implementation, $9,200.
  • Beckman Research Award, 1998-1999, Topological Methods in Fair Division, $8,600.
  • Beckman Research Award, 1997-1998, Faster Rates of Convergence for Random Walks on the Circle and Sphere, $9,060.

    SELECTED RECENT INVITED TALKS: (last updated Feb 2006)

  • James R.C. Leitzel Lecture, 2006 MAA Mathfest, Knoxville TN, 8/10/06.
  • MAA Invited Address, 2006 Joint AMS-MAA Winter Meetings, San Antonio TX 1/12/06.
  • Invited Address, Southern California MAA Meeting, University of Southern California, 3/5/05.
  • Plenary Speaker, Inside the Cube: Algebra, Combinatorics, and Geometry, University of Magdeburg, Germany, 7/1/05.
  • Oberwolfach conference on Topological and Geometric Combinatorics, Oberwolfach, Germany, 4/11/03.
  • Plenary Speaker, Georgia Topology Conference, University of Georgia, 5/22-26/02.
  • Plenary Speaker, Southern California MAA Sectional Meeting, Caltech, Pasadena CA, 3/16/02.
  • Plenary Speaker, Conference in Honor of Lester Dubins and David Blackwell, UC-Berkeley, 2/4-6/02.
  • Plenary Speaker, Modeling Group Decision Processes, Center for Interdisciplinary Research (ZiF), Special Year on "Procedural Approaches to Conflict Resolution", Bielefeld, Germany, 10/11/01.
  • Mathematics Colloquium, Westmont College, 9/7/01.
  • Plenary Speaker, Bay Area Discrete Math Day, 4/14/01.
  • Plenary Speaker, Conference on Fair Division Theory, Universit\'a G. d'Annunzio, Pescara, Italy, 12/15/00.
  • Microeconomics Seminar, Rice University, 11/16/00.
  • Geometry/Analysis Seminar, Rice University, 11/15/00.
  • Combinatorial Geometry Seminar, Cornell University, 5/1/00.
  • Mathematics Colloquium, Ithaca College, 4/5/00.
  • Cornell Economics Society, Cornell University, 4/4/00.
  • Probability Seminar, Cornell University, 3/27/00.

    OTHER PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES:

  • Referee for: Mathematical Social Sciences, Journal of Mathematical Analysis and Applications, Mathematics of Operations Research, American Mathematical Monthly, Mathematics Magazine.
  • Editorial Board, MAA Spectrum, 1/2000-.
  • MAA Subcommittee of the Committee on the Profession, 1/2000-.
  • Organizing Committee, 3rd Int'l Conference on Monte-Carlo & Quasi-Monte Carlo Methods, Claremont, CA, 6/25/98.
  • MAA Project NExT Fellow, 1996-97.
  • Speaker and Session leader, Derek Bok Center Fall and Spring Teaching Orientations, Harvard University, 1/30/96, 9/13/95.
  • Workshop Session Leader, for the Teaching in English Program, Derek Bok Center, Harvard University. 9/5-15/95.
  • Assistant Organizer: NSF Chatauqua Short Course for College Teachers, June 16-18, 1994 and July 16-18, 1995. "What it Means to Solve a Differential Equation: Henri Poincare and the Origins of Chaos Theory", Daniel Goroff, Harvard University. Gave plenary lecture: "Smale Horseshoes and Symbolic Dynamics". Supervised computer lab sessions using dynamical systems software.

    SERVICE:

  • Teaching a one-semester enrichment course for bright 8th-graders at Foothill Country Day School, Claremont, CA.  Spring 1998 and 1999.
  • Pomona College Mathematics Talent Search Honors Day speaker. "The Mathematics of Fair Division: How to Cut a Cake Fairly". April 26, 1997.
  • Science Fair Judge, Vista Del Valle Elementary School, Claremont, CA. February 1997.
  • Guest speaker at Advanced Algebra, Geometry classes and the Math Club at Milton High School, Milton, MA. May 21, 1996.
  • Guest speaker at 7th grade classes at Dunn Middle School, Danvers, MA. April 1995.

    PERSONAL BACKGROUND:

  • U.S. Citizen, from Kingsville, Texas.
  • Year of birth: 1969.
  • Hobbies: music, guitar, songwriting.
  • Member, National Academy of Songwriters.
  • Activities: Volunteer, Cambridgeport Baptist Church Clothes Closet and Food Pantry, 1989-90. Head Officer for the Harvard Graduate School Christian Fellowship (1991-1993).
  • Sports: jogging, volleyball, crew, weightlifting. Kirkland House Co-ed Crew Team: Intramural Champions 1991.