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2025 MAA Missouri Section Meeting

We look forward to seeing you at the 2025 MAA Missouri Section Meeting, held at Saint Louis University in St. Louis from Friday, April 4, to Saturday, April 5, with the MCMC preceding it on Thursday, April 3, 2025.

Keynote Speakers

Steve Butler, Professor, Iowa State University

Steve Butler
Professor
Iowa State University

Jenna Carpenter, MAA President-Elect, Board of Directors

Jenna Carpenter
MAA president
Board of Directors

Additional Information

Registration

To register, please fill out the registration form below. At the end of the form, you will be provided a payment link directing you to the SLU Marketplace, where you will have the option to add a ticket for the banquet when completing their registration payment.

Students who are part of a registered MCMC team do not need to pay a separate registration fee or purchase a ticket for the banquet.  These costs are included in the team registration fee.

Registration Fees

Before March 15

  • Student: $10
  • Faculty (MAA member): $20
  • Faculty (Non-member): $25

After March 15

  • Student: $15
  • Faculty (MAA member): $25
  • Faculty (Non-member): $30

Banquet Fee

The banquet fee is $20 per person, and it will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, April 4, in the Sinquefield Stateroom.

Register

Submit an Abstract

We invite both faculty and students to present at the spring meeting. Presentations should be 15 minutes long and focus on mathematics or mathematics education. Potential topics include, but are not limited to, current mathematics research, new courses that have been developed and successful teaching techniques. Talks can be either research-oriented or expository.

Many undergraduate and graduate students attend this meeting, and you are welcome to design your presentation for these students. Also, if you are advising a student who is doing research, please encourage the student to present and assist the student in preparing the presentation.

Presenters must also register for the conference. The deadline for submissions is March 28, 2025.

Submit Your Abstract

Conference Schedule

Friday, April 4, 2025

  • 11:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. Meeting registration, Sinquefield Room
  • 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. Opening remarks, Sinquefield Room

    Keynote speaker: Steve Butler, Ph.D.
    Title: Juggling Counts
    Abstract: Mathematics is a language which can help us describe and explore patterns. One source of patterns that mathematicians have been exploring comes from juggling (the tossing of objects, usually balls or clubs). In this talk we will look at multiple ways to describe juggling patterns that allow us to find new juggling patterns, and to count how many possible patterns exist. We can compare answers to various problems to give a combinatorial proof of Worpitzky's identity. We will also look at a few juggling-based problems that mathematics has not yet succeeded in answering.

  • 2 - 5 p.m. Contributed Talks, Classrooms TBA
  • 5 - 5:45 p.m. Graduate Student Reception, Room TBA
  • 6 - 8 p.m. Banquet, Sinquefield Room

    Keynote speaker: Jenna Carpenter, Ph.D.
    Title: Weaving Students In Versus Weeding Them Out: Evidence-based Strategies that Support Equity and Success in the Math Classroom
    Abstract: An instructor's focus on equity is important to student success in the math classroom. Because students bring with them different levels of social capital, as well as different mental frameworks of success and smartness, what mathematics is, and what it takes to succeed in college, traditional instructional approaches can introduce aspects to the classroom that actually exacerbate inequity. Fortunately, there are a number of research-based strategies that instructors can implement to increase the sense of belonging and level the playing field in math classes.
  • 8:30 - 9:30 p.m. Executive committee meeting, Classroom TBD
  • 8:30 - 9:30 p.m. Math Trivia Night organized by the Saint Louis University Math Club and AWM Student Chapter, DuBourg Hall, Room 240 (Pere Marquette Gallery)

Saturday, April 5, 2025

  • 8:30 - 10:45 a.m. Contributed talks, classrooms TBD
  • 11 a.m. - noon Panel discussions, classrooms TBD  
  • 1 p.m. MO MAA business meeting, room TBD
Section NExT Schedule

Thursday, April 3, 2025

  • 7 - 8 p.m. MO NExT Reception, Tegeler Hall Lobby
    MO NExT Members and invited guests, join us for an hour of mathematical camaraderie!

Friday, April 4, 2025

  • 8:30 - 9:30 a.m., Tegeler Hall, Room 103

    Speaker:     Steve Butler, Ph.D., Morrill professor, Mathematics, Iowa State University
    Title: Every Game I’m Shufflin’, Shufflin’
    Abstract: Shuffling is a well-known aspect of gameplay to help make the decks "sufficiently random" to make the game interesting. Shuffling is also a source of mathematical exploration where shuffles are thought of as permutations of the cards. In this talk, we will take some tools of mathematics, modular arithmetic, and binary numbers, and show how we can apply these to shuffling, and in particular, some simple-to-learn mathematically-based card tricks, which will be performed live. Along the way, we will also learn why we should never work with jokers.
  • 10 - 11 a.m., Tegeler Hall, Room 103

    Speaker: Matthias Wood, Instructor, Mathematics, Lindenwood University
    Title: Streamlining Online Mathematics Homework: A Practical Guide to MyOpenMath.com and LMS Integration
    Abstract: Implementing Open Education Resources (OER) presents an exciting opportunity to enhance student learning by reducing cost. This presentation addresses the challenge of effective implementation of OER-based homework systems, especially within the Learning Management System (LMS) of Canvas, by providing a practical demonstration and tutorial of MyOpenMath.com - a free online platform designed to create and deliver dynamic questions and assignments. Specifically, this session will showcase how MyOpenMath.com facilitates the development of algorithmically generated questions, dynamic feedback, and innovative video-queued assignments, all of which contribute to a more interactive and supportive learning environment. I will highlight the student experience, demonstrate seamless integration with Canvas or standalone deployment, and then guide participants through the process of creating video-queued and traditional homework/exam assignments. This presentation aims to equip attendees with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively utilize MyOpenMath.com in their own courses. Attendees are encouraged to request a free instructor account at MyOpenMath.com and bring a laptop to participate in the hands-on tutorial.
Missouri Collegiate Mathematics Competition Registration and Schedule

The 30th Missouri Collegiate Mathematics Competition will be held on the campus of Saint Louis University.

Thursday, April 3, 2025

Missouri Collegiate Mathematics Competition (Session 1)
7:30 - 10 p.m.
Multipurpose room on the third floor of the Allied Health Professional Building, on the South Campus near the Hickory East Parking Garage.

Friday, April 4, 2025

Missouri Collegiate Mathematics Competition (Session 2)
8:30 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Rooms 171-173 in Busch Student Center, on the North Campus near the Laclede Parking Garage.

Registration deadline: Friday, March 28, 2025. Late registrations will be accepted if space is available.

Registration

Register through the conference registration provided above and registration fee is $120 per team. You will be able to add the registration fee(s) to your cart through SLU Marketplace in the payment step while registering.

Faculty mentors may list the names of their team members in the registration form. Alternatively, team roster(s) can be submitted by email at a later time. Please email Brody Johnson at brody.johnson@slu.edu. 

Accommodations

List of the hotels in the area and contact information:

Campus Map and Parking

Conference events will take place primarily* on the North Campus of Saint Louis University. Campus visitors have two parking options:

  • Park in metered spaces and pay the meters ($2.25/hr). The closest street parking (metered) is on Lindell Blvd, East of Grand. 
  • Visitor parking on campus ($2/hour or $6/day). If using visitor parking on campus, the nearest locations are the Laclede garage or the Olive/Compton garage.

SLU Maps, Directions and Parking Information

*Note that the Thursday evening session of the MCMC will be held in the Allied Health Professional Building, which is near the Hickory East Parking Garage on the South Campus of Saint Louis University

SLU Campus Map