Notable Achievements

Three faculty and an alumnus participated in the 2025 Joint Mathematics Meetings in Seattle, WA from January 8-12. Associate Professor of Mathematics John Ross presented “Fast-flipping a Calculus 3 Class using AI help” in the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) Contributed Paper Session on “Using AI in Mathematics Instruction.” This was sponsored by the MAA special interest group on artificial intelligence. Professor and Garey Chair of Mathematics Alison Marr served on a panel to talk about the Enhancing Diversity in Graduate Education (EDGE) Summer Program (edgeforwomen.org). The panel was sponsored by IGEN, the Inclusive Graduate Education Network, which is a part of the National Science Foundation’s INCLUDES alliance: Inclusion across the Nation of Communities of Learners of Underrepresented Discoverers in Engineering and Science. Marr has been Co-Director of the EDGE Summer Program since 2020. Associate Professor of Mathematics Therese Shelton presented “ODEs and the Flu” in the American Mathematical Society (AMS) Special Session on “Modeling Matters in Teaching and Learning Differential Equations,” sponsored by SIMIODE. Computational mathematics and psychology alumna Daniela Beckelhymer ’20 co-organized the AMS Special Session on “Math Research Community Climate Science at the Interface between Topological Data Analysis and Dynamical Systems Theory.” Beckelhymer has completed the M.S. in Mathematics and is working towards a Ph.D. in Mathematics at the University of Minnesota.

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Therese Shelton

Associate Professor of Mathematics

Expertise

Mathematical Modeling, especially with Differential Equations and especially as related to biological systems. Technology as a pedagogical tool. Dynamical Systems; Functional Analysis.
Assessment of Student Learning and of Math Programs.

 

Honors & Awards

National Science Foundation Grant 2018-2021 “Building Community  Through Systemic Initiative for Modeling Investigations and Opportunities with Differential Equations (SIMIODE)” Co-Principal Investigator with B. Winkel, P. Tiffany, A. Malagon, C. Harwood. NSF 15-585 Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Education and Human Resources (IUSE: EHR).   $450,000. 

Texas Section of the Mathematical Association of America: Ron Barnes Distinguished Service to Students Award 2015

Southwestern University Nominated for SU Teaching Award * 2015-16 * 2013-14 * 2012-13 * 2010-11

Southwestern University’s Nomination for the 2019 Faculty Mentoring Award in Mathematics and Computer Sciences by the Council for Undergraduate Research

Affiliations

Professional: American Mathematical Society, Association of Women in Mathematics, Mathematical Association of America, Texas Association of Academic Administrators of Mathematical Sciences, Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics.

Professional Leadership 

MAA Committee on Session of Contributed Papers 2018-2021. 

MAA Congress member as Representative of the Texas Section 2019-2022. 

MAA Congress Recorder Feb 2020 - Jan 2022.

 

Therese Shelton received her PhD and MS from Clemson University in 1987 and her BS from Texas A&M University in 1982.

She believes mathematics is a language which allows one to examine and express phenomena from our world as well as in a wider context. 

  • Biography

     

    Honors & Awards

    National Science Foundation Grant 2018-2021 “Building Community  Through Systemic Initiative for Modeling Investigations and Opportunities with Differential Equations (SIMIODE)” Co-Principal Investigator with B. Winkel, P. Tiffany, A. Malagon, C. Harwood. NSF 15-585 Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Education and Human Resources (IUSE: EHR).   $450,000. 

    Texas Section of the Mathematical Association of America: Ron Barnes Distinguished Service to Students Award 2015

    Southwestern University Nominated for SU Teaching Award * 2015-16 * 2013-14 * 2012-13 * 2010-11

    Southwestern University’s Nomination for the 2019 Faculty Mentoring Award in Mathematics and Computer Sciences by the Council for Undergraduate Research

    Affiliations

    Professional: American Mathematical Society, Association of Women in Mathematics, Mathematical Association of America, Texas Association of Academic Administrators of Mathematical Sciences, Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics.

    Professional Leadership 

    MAA Committee on Session of Contributed Papers 2018-2021. 

    MAA Congress member as Representative of the Texas Section 2019-2022. 

    MAA Congress Recorder Feb 2020 - Jan 2022.

     

    Therese Shelton received her PhD and MS from Clemson University in 1987 and her BS from Texas A&M University in 1982.

    She believes mathematics is a language which allows one to examine and express phenomena from our world as well as in a wider context. 

  • Publications

    2019 Shelton, T.,  T. Laurent and B. Agyemang-Barimah. “Pharmacokinetic Models for Active Learning of Differential Equations.”  PRIMUS, (2019) 29:7, 742-767, DOI: 10.1080/10511970.2018.1484398.

    2019  Shelton, T., E.K. Groves and S. Adrian. “A Model of the Transmission of Cholera in a Population with Contaminated Water.” CODEE Journal: Vol. 12, Article 5. DOI 10.5642/codee.201912.01.05.  https://scholarship.claremont.edu/codee/vol12/iss1/5

    2019  Ross, J., T. Shelton. “Supermarkets, Highways, and Gas Production: Statistics and Social Justice.” PRIMUS, DOI 10.1080/10511970.2018.1456497.  Print Volume 29, Number 3-4, 2019, p328-344.

    2018  “Mathematical Modeling Projects: Success for All Students” PRIMUS, DOI: 10.1080/10511970.2016.124932. Print Volume 28, Number 4, 2018, p318 - 334. 

    2017  “Injecting Inquiry Oriented Modules into Calculus” PRIMUS, DOI: 10.1080/10511970.2016.1211205. Print Volume 27, Number 7, 2017, p669-680.

    2013  Kyle CH, Plantz AL, Shelton T, Burks RL  “Count Your Eggs Before They Invade: Identifying and Quantifying Egg Clutches of Two Invasive Apple Snail Species (Pomacea).” PLoS ONE 8(10): e77736. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0077736.  

  • Works

    PEER-REVIEWED PUBLISHED CLASSROOM MODULES through SIMIODE. Each modeling scenario has a Student Version and Teacher Version of the same work that is available exclusively to registered teachers. 

    2020 Classroom modeling scenario with Winkel, B. “3-034 CarSuspensions.”

    2018  with T. Laurent and B. Agyemang-Barimah.  

    • “1-130-S-AspirinAbsorption,” https://www.simiode.org/resources/4963, Student Version, and “1-130-T-AspirinAbsorption,” https://www.simiode.org/resources/4962 Teacher Version.
    • “1-131-S-CaffeineElimination,” https://www.simiode.org/resources/4976, Student Version, and “1-131-T-CaffeineElimination,” https://www.simiode.org/resources/4967 Teacher Version.
    • “1-032-S-DigoxinElimination,” https://www.simiode.org/resources/4993, Student Version. “1-032-T-DigoxinElimination,” https://www.simiode.org/resources/4994.

     

    NATIONAL EXPERT CLASSES PRESENTED - PEER-REVIEWED by MAA Committee with Participant Feedback

    2018 “Starter Kit for Teaching Modeling-First Differential Equations Course.” Minicourse co-presenter with B. Winkel, SIMIODE & Emeritus U.S. Military Academy West Point; R. Farley & P. Tiffany, Manhattan College. JMM, San Diego, CA.

    2017 “Examples and Experiences in Teaching a Modeling-Based Differential Equations Course.” Workshop co-presenter with B. Winkel, SIMIODE & Emeritus U.S. Military Academy West Point; R. Farley & P. Tiffany, Manhattan College. MathFest, Chicago, IL.

    2017 “Teaching Modeling-First Differential Equations–Technology and Complete End Game Efforts.” Minicourse co-presenter with B. Winkel, SIMIODE & Emeritus U.S. Military Academy West Point; R. Farley & P. Tiffany, Manhattan College; J. Paynter, U.S. Military Academy West Point.  JMM, Atlanta, GA.

    2016 “SIMIODE: A Modeling Approach to Differential Equations.” Minicourse co-presenter with B. Winkel, Emeritus U.S. Military Academy West Point; R. Farley & P. Tiffany, Manhattan College.  * MathFest, Columbus, OH.

  • Presentations

    Some recent scholarly works:

    2019 “DE and Social Justice: A Cholera Model with Bacterial Reservoir ” co-authored with E.K. Groves and S. Adrian.  MathFest, Cincinnati, OH. 

    2018 “Incorporating Biology Topics into Mathematics Undergraduate” co-presented with E.K. Groves, SU class of 2017, graduate student at North Carolina State University. MathFest, Denver, CO.

    2018 “An Undergraduate Mathematical Modeling Capstone.” SIAM ED-18, Portland, OR.

    2017 “Pharmacokinetic Models for Active Learning” co-presented with T. Laurent, St. Louis College of Pharmacy & B. Agyemang-Barimah, SU class of 2017. MathFest, Chicago, IL.

    2017  “Supermarkets, Highways, and Oil Production: Statistics and Social Justice” with J. Ross. JMM, Atlanta, GA.

    2016 “SIMIODE: A Modeling Approach to Differential Equations” co-presented with J. Sieben & R. Abbasian from Texas Lutheran University. TxMAA, Nacogdoches, TX. 

    2016 “Active DE with Inquiry and More”  JMM, Seattle, WA.

    2015 “Injections of IBL.”  Poster.  Legacy of RL Moore / IBL Conference, Austin, TX.

    2015  Invited NExT panelist to discuss “Explorations into Preparing a Successful Tenure Portfolio”, Washington, D.C.

    2015 “Working to Improve Student Success in Calculus I Through Pre-calculus Support” co-presented with A. Marr. JMM,  San Antonio, TX.

    2015 “POGIL Flu for Calculus: Influenza Data to Help Students Investigate Antiderivatives, Accumulations, and FTC” JMM, San Antonio, TX.

In the News

  • When viewed through an electron microscope, the spikes that adorn the outer surface of a coronavirus suggest the appearance of a corona, or crown. A novel coronavirus, named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was identified as the cause of an outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
    Scholarly Perspectives on COVID-19, Part 2: Forecasting a Pandemic

    Therese Shelton, associate professor of mathematics, discusses the process, value, and difficulty of modeling a pandemic like COVID-19.