PULASKI, Tenn. – Faculty and students from the University of Tennessee Southern Department of Mathematics and Sciences recently represented the university at multiple regional academic conferences, contributing research, sharing teaching practices and engaging with peers across the Southeast.
Biology faculty and students attended the Annual Association for Southeastern Biologists conference, held March 25-28 in Mobile, Alabama. During the conference, faculty contributed to the academic program through session leadership and research presentations, including a lightning talk focused on assessing stream health in Pleasant Run Creek using integrated biological and water quality metrics.
Students Denton Watkins, Leighanna Williams and Shanna D. Hanes presented research on fish community structure as an indicator of water quality in Pleasant Run Creek. Williams, Watkins and Hanes also presented a quantitative stream health assessment based on aquatic macroinvertebrate communities. Rebecka Roddy and Stanton Belford presented research on crayfish diversity in Giles County, while Olivia Cheplin and Samara Mattiello explored evolutionary drivers of mimicry in Papilio glaucus.
Faculty also supported the broader scientific community by moderating sessions and serving as judges for student research presentations, while students gained experience presenting their work in a professional setting.
At the same time, mathematics faculty attended the 105th Annual Conference of the Mathematical Association of America Southeast Section, held March 26-28. Dr. Sarah Eskew presented on mastery-based grading in a remedial math course, Dr. Jac Cole presented on a flipped-classroom approach to teaching statistics and Dr. Jennifer Aust presented on strategies for teaching logic and proof writing.
Chemistry student Drew Britton also presented research titled “From Solar System to Strata: Modeling the Atmospheric Heating of Cosmic Dust”, building on work developed through the SCUDEM Differential Equations Modeling Contest.
Eskew also contributed in her role on the section’s executive board, helping lead Project NExT sessions that support early-career mathematics faculty across the region.
These experiences reflect UT Southern’s continued emphasis on experiential learning, faculty scholarship and opportunities for students to apply classroom knowledge in real-world academic and professional settings.
The department will continue that work April 22 as UT Southern hosts its 11th Annual EarthFest Creek Cleanup, inviting campus and community members to participate in environmental stewardship efforts.
