News

Professor Publishes Biographical Work Unveiling the Legacy of Josephine Mirabella Ellio

University of Evansville professor of mathematics, Clark Kimberling, proudly announces the publication of his latest work, "Josephine Mirabella Elliott: Historian, Librarian, Teacher." This biographical masterpiece delves into the remarkable life of Josephine Mirabella Elliott, a figure celebrated for her extensive research and publications focusing on the rich history of New Harmony, situated just 25 miles west of Evansville.

 

 

A highlight of Josephine Mirabella Elliott's scholarly endeavors includes her monumental 1200-page book, "Partners for Posterity," published by the Indiana Historical Society in 1994. Her profound dedication to recording the historical narrative of New Harmony received widespread recognition, with her works being consistently featured in Evansville and Posey County newspapers until her passing in 2002. 

Josephine Mirabella Elliott, born in 1912 to Italian parents in Chicago, pursued her education at the University of Chicago High School before earning two degrees at the University of Chicago. There, she met her future husband, John Elliott, an archaeologist who later became a civic leader. After World War II, John inherited a farm in New Harmony, sparking their deep involvement in the town's history and their lasting impact on the University of Southern Indiana (USI). Their significant contributions earned them honorary doctorates from USI, recognizing their influence on academia and local communities. 

The narrative is enriched by rare insights, including a captivating picture capturing the faculty of Bosse High School in Evansville, IN, circa 1945. The biographical account draws extensively from the correspondence between Josephine and John Elliott, archived at the renowned Working Men's Institute Library in New Harmony, where Josephine made significant contributions throughout her career. 

Professor Clark Kimberling's careful research and compelling narrative showcase the extraordinary life of Josephine Mirabella Elliott, shedding light on her enduring legacy as a trailblazer in historical preservation and education. 

Dr. Omid Khormali is the Emerging ChangeLab Coach of the Year!

Here’s what the Center for Innovation & Change members had to say about our standout leader.

“Designed to recognize a Coach who jumps right in to deliver high impact experiential learning for ChangeLab students, Dr. Khormali’s Data Analysis students have blown us away. They’ve helped a wide range of clients gain key insights and make better decisions, including the U.S. Forest Service. For which Dr. Khormali’s team analyzed more data than the Lunar Lander, and provided a way for the USFS to better understand invasive species and forest fire issues. There’s a good chance his students will get to testify in front of Congress about it and begin assisting other municipal entities due to a successful grant the work has inspired. Considering their program’s last ChangeLab won the National Excellence in Innovation award at the Edward R. Murrows, UE’s Math Department is not playing around!  Congratulations, Omid!”

ChangeLab Coach of the Year Omid Khormali 2023

Professor Azarian Speaks at National Mathematics Conference and Presides Over the Human Rights Meeting

Mohammad K. Azarian, professor of mathematics, attended the 2024 Joint Mathematics Meetings in San Fransisco, California, January 2-6, where 17 different national mathematics organizations took part. He presented a paper to the American Mathematical Society (AMS) entitled, “Combinatorics of Discrete Functions”. Also, as the chair of the AMS Committee on the Human Rights of Mathematicians, he presided over its annual meeting.

Professor Azarian Speaks at the National Meeting of the Mathematical Association of America (MathFest 2023)

Mohammad K. Azarian, Professor of Mathematics, presented a paper entitled, "Strategies and Challenges in Creating Original, Interesting, and Publishable Mathematical Problems" at the National Meeting of the Mathematical Association of America in Tampa, Florida, August 2-5, 2023.  Also, he co-chaired the contributed paper session, "Problem Creation and Problem Solving" which he co-organized.  He also served as a judge for undergraduate poster session, sponsored by MAA.

Clark Kimberling Gives Presentation at 50th annual conference of the Communal Studies Association

UE Professor of Mathematics Clark Kimberling gave an invited presentation at the 50th annual conference of the Communal Studies Association, October 3-7 in New Harmony, Indiana.

In a session on early 19th century New Harmony, Kimberling used his recently published website, CORNELIUS TIEBOUT ENGRAVINGS as a basis for describing the life and work of one of America's foremost copperplate engravers. While still a teenager, Tiebout engraved a map of Manhattan in the New York City Directory for 1789, as well as 47 engravings in The New York Magazine and Literary Repository. During 1793-1796, Tiebout worked in London, and in 1800, he and his bride Esther moved from New York to Philadelphia, where hundreds of his engravings were published. In 1826 he (with daughter Caroline, 23, and son Henry, 5), moved to New Harmony, where he joined other famous Philadelphians (William Maclure, Thomas Say, Charles-Alexandre Lesueur, and Marie Fretageot). There he continued engraving, and he was a teacher in Maclure's School of Industry until his death in 1832. Dr. Kimberling also recently expanded his website New Harmony Scientists, Educators, Writers & Artists and contributed to Wikipedia its article on Cornelius Tiebout.

Clark Kimberling with Sign.

Mathematics Award Recipients

Congratulations to this year’s Mathematics Award recipients!

The Bennett-Knott Outstanding Senior in Mathematics Award recipients are Nicole Tucker and Sarah Vreeland. The Gruenwald Commitment to Excellence award was presented to Nicole Benati. The Outstanding Freshman Mathematics award recipient is Daniel Dwyer.

Nicole Tucker, Nicole Benati, Sarah Vreeland, and Daniel Dwyer holding their awards.

Students from 13 Southwest Indiana High Schools Honored by UE’s Mathematics Department

Students from 13 Southwestern Indiana High Schools were honored during the 30th Annual Mathematics Department Banquet on Tuesday, April 4, at the University of Evansville (UE).

The top performing High School junior students were recognized for their hard work. Students were awarded a special add-on scholarship. The schools participating included Boonville High School, Bosse High School, Castle High School, Central High School, Gibson Southern High School, Mater Dei High School, Mt. Vernon High School, New Tech Institute, North High School, North Posey high School, Reitz High School, Reitz Memorial high School, and Signature School.

A room of 150 people were on hand for the annual celebration in Eykamp Hall of the University's Ridgway Center. Keynote Speaker and Data Scientist Dr. Darrin Weber presented on "What is data science and why does it need mathematicians?" Professor of Mathematics Dr. Clark Kimberling and Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing Dr. Jill Griffin also spoke to audience members.

"We must take a moment to express our gratitude for all the young minds who gathered at UE on Tuesday night, their passion for mathematics inspires us all," said Associate Professor and Department Chair of Mathematics Dr. Erin Davis. "Their enthusiasm and dedication remind us of the power of curiosity and the endless possibilities that come with a love for learning. We are thankful for their presence and for the joy they bring to this annual math banquet."

Banquet attendees

Congratulations to Data Analytics ChangeLab Participants

Congratulations to the Data Analytics ChangeLab for winning an award during the 28th annual Celebration of Leadership, hosted by Leadership Everyone.

Celebration of Leadership is an annual event during which Leadership Everyone honors individuals, projects, programs, businesses, and organizations that make significant, collaborative contributions that improve and transform community in the Tri-State region. The Department of Mathematics' STAT 300 ChangeLab students were honored for their project with the U.S. Forestry Service.

Leader in Technology Award 2023

Dr. Omid Khormali Receives Class of 1961 Faculty Fellowship Award

Congratulations to Dr. Omid Khormali, Assistant Professor of Mathematics for receiving the Class of 1961 Faculty Fellowship Awards. The award was established with gifts and pledges from the members of the Class of 1961 for pre-tenured faculty to provide support for their research projects.

Dr. Omid Khormali Receives Class of 1961 Faculty Fellowship Award

UE, WNIN Receive National Edward R. Murrow Award

On Tuesday, August 17, the Radio Television Digital News Association announced the University of Evansville (UE) and WNIN as a national winner for the 2021 Edward R. Murrow Awards.

In 2020, WNIN, the Center for Innovation and Change at the University of Evansville, and ¿Qué Pasa, Midwest? collaborated on a seven-month research and reporting project to find stories of the coronavirus pandemic in seven Midwestern states. COVID Between the Coasts (CBC) is ongoing, adding data-driven reporting on the pandemic for the historical record.

CBC Lead Reporter Sarah Kuper said, “The students' hard work and valuable points of view, combined with the expertise of Dr. Tamara Wandel and Dr. Darrin Weber, made COVID Between the Coasts a historic time capsule of Midwestern life during the pandemic. It was their contribution that put us in the position to win one of the highest honors in the field of journalism. I know I personally learned a lot by working with them.”

WNIN Vice President of Radio Steve Burger said, “Because of the UE data and research, we were able to focus our coverage within a large survey area and break new ground. For example, our ¿Qué Pasa, Midwest? team on the ground in Chicago did valuable reporting on inconsistencies in the national data regarding essential workers. We reported on rural Midwestern communities that previously were not part of the national discussion of the pandemic. We showed the differences in the pandemic’s impact across our survey area.”

“UE is proud to have been part of telling the story of our Midwestern region in the first pandemic in 100 years and highlights the significant contributions that our faculty, staff, and students make every day in our ever-changing world,” said UE President Christopher M. Pietruszkiewicz. “With UE and WNIN working together, we were able to make a difference in a way that we would not have been able to do individually and are delighted by the collaboration. 

Since 1971, the Radio Television Digital News Association has honored outstanding achievements in electronic journalism with the annual Edward R. Murrow Awards. These awards are among the most prestigious in broadcast news, and recipients demonstrate the spirit of excellence that Murrow set as a standard for the profession of electronic journalism. Winners will be honored at the Murrow Awards Gala in New York City on October 27, 2021.

Murrow Award Winners

University of Evansville Students Earn Prestigious Edward R. Murrow Awards

A group of University of Evansville (UE) students have been recognized for their work on a community journalism initiative that examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Midwest.

The UE ChangeLab project, “COVID Between the Coasts,” is a collaboration between two University courses and National Public Radio member station WNIN.

The project, presented in a podcast format, examined seven Midwestern states through the lens of underrepresented populations grappling with the ongoing pandemic.

Over seven months, Aces led by Drs. Tamara Wandel (communications) and Darrin Weber (mathematics) carried out research, conducted interviews, and compiled data to tell localized and human stories.

“The research and reporting for our podcast is broader and richer as a result of the ChangeLab students’ award-winning work,” said WNIN reporter and producer Sarah Kuper.

“COVID Between the Coasts” earned the Excellence and Innovation and Excellence in Writing in the Region 7 group at the 2021 Edward R. Murrow Awards. Since 1971, the Radio Television Digital News Association has honored outstanding achievements in electronic journalism with annual ceremonies.

 “These are some of the most prestigious journalism awards out there, and I’m so proud of our students for their work on this project,” Wandel said.

“My classmates and I were able to do everything from research to interviewing and script writing,” UE student Nicole Tucker. “These were all things that we didn’t have a lot of experience in but with the help of our professors and WNIN, we were able to create a successful podcast series.”

A compilation of “COVID Between the Coasts” is available online.

ChangeLabs at the University of Evansville are semester-long courses in which students create positive change for businesses, nonprofits, and the community. Guided by expert coaches, multidisciplinary student teams provide services or develop innovative solutions to challenges. In addition to the award-winning “COVID Between the Coasts” collaboration, other ChangeLab projects include a city-wide bike sharing program and a $90,000 solar panel grant for a local community center.

For more information, visit the ChangeLab webpage.

University of Evansville Ranked Among the Top 20 Most Affordable Bachelor's in Data Science

The University of Evansville has been ranked among the top 20 most affordable bachelor's in data science for 2020 by Data Science Degree Programs Guide. The ranking was published on the organization's website in January.

This ranking was created using the National Center for Education Statistics' College Navigator database. The top 20 most affordable bachelor's in data science programs were selected based on the program's net price.

“The University of Evansville is deeply committed to both academic excellence and affordability,” said Dave Dwyer, chair of the Department of Mathematics at UE. “I’m proud of the extraordinary work of our faculty, students, and alumni in building an elite program in statistics and data science while maintaining affordability. Our inclusion in this ranking is a testament to their efforts.” 

The bachelor's in statistics and data science from the University of Evansville combines cutting-edge data science techniques with statistics. Students get a top-notch liberal arts education that prepares them to frame questions, work as part of a team, make decisions, and communicate results.

Emphasis is placed on analyzing real-world data using statistical methods with software like R, Python, and SQL. Courses include Machine Learning, Techniques for Large Data Sets, and Statistical Modeling, as well as a data consultancy.

“Our students have an opportunity to work as data consultants for local businesses and organizations that give them on-the-job experience you can’t get anywhere else,” said Darrin Weber, assistant professor and director of the Statistics and Data Science program. “This gives them the type of experience employers are looking for from experienced professionals, and our students have it before they graduate.”

Most students complete their data science degree along with minor or even a second major in four years. Visit the program’s web page to learn more.

Data Science Degree Programs Guide is an online resource guide for finding the latest information about data science programs available at the associate's, bachelor's, and master's degree levels. The site's mission is to share expert knowledge on the highest quality data science degree programs offered by accredited universities to help students in their quest for a rewarding career in data science. Comprehensive resources include program rankings, feature articles, scholarship information, and more. Read the full article online.

Kimberling and Moses Publish Research Paper

Professor of Mathematics Clark Kimberling and British engineer Peter Moses have a research article on "Self-inverse Gemini triangles" in the April issue of the International Journal of Geometry. The article investigates special properties of a large family of triangles known as Gemini triangles.

Using methods of linear algebra applied to barycentric coordinates, the conclusions involve several conic curves and cubic curves that are new to the literature. Several recently discovered special points in the plane of a triangle are introduced, having first appeared during 2019 in the UE-based Encyclopedia of Triangle Centers (https://faculty.evansville.edu/ck6/encyclopedia/ETC.html).

A pdf of the paper can be accessed from https://ijgeometry.com/product/clark-kimberling-and-peter-moses-self-inverse-gemini-triangles/.

Professor Azarian Speaks at National Conference and Serves as a Judge for Undergraduate Research

Mohammad K. Azarian, Professor of Mathematics, presented a paper, entitled, "On Convergence of Some Infinite Series Involving Fibonacci Numbers and Identities" at the joint annual meetings of the American Mathematical Society and Mathematical Association of America in Denver, Colorado, January 15-18, 2020. Also, at this conference he served as a judge for undergraduate poster sessions, sponsored by Mathematical Association of America and funded by the National Science Foundation.

Professor Kimberling Publishes Research Article

Clark Kimberling, Professor of Mathematics, has a research article in the current issue of Journal of Geometry, viewable at https://rdcu.be/b0HTu.

Entitled "Polynomial triangle centers on the line at infinity," the article presents newly discovered points in the extended plane of an abstract triangle and their relationships, using homogeneous barycentric coordinates that are polynomial functions of the variable sidelengths of the triangle. The final section of the paper, entitled "Historical comments," cites a prophetic article in the American Mathematical Monthly on "The rise, fall, and possible transfiguration of triangle geometry: a mini-history." Now, 25 years later, Dr. Kimberling's article discusses the actual transfiguration that has taken place, including the development of the UE-based Encyclopedia of Triangle Centers - ETC, https://faculty.evansville.edu/ck6/encyclopedia/ETC.html. The number of triangle centers presented in ETC has grown considerably during the past year with contributions from around the world. Last semester, the number of entries passed 36,000.

Show all articles