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Dr. Bonita Lawrence
Professor of Mathematics
Education
B.A. (Mathematics), Cameron University
M.S. (Mathematics), Auburn University
Ph.D. (Mathematical Sciences), University of Texas at Arlington
Research
For the last five years, Dr. Lawrence has been
working toward building a four-integrator
Differential Analyzer (DA), which will ultimately
serve as an educational tool to improve the teaching
and learning of mathematics. Beginning with a
smaller machine, Dr. Lawrence led a team of
researchers, primarily students, in building a
two-integrator tool, “Lizzie,” that allows
mathematical functions to be visualized. After
several years, a four-integrator DA nicknamed “The
Big Machine” or “Art,” is now complete. Dr.
Lawrence has been invited to speak about the MU-DA
Project at the Mathematics Colloquium at Charleston
Southern University, in South Carolina; the
Appalachian Association of Mathematics Teachers
Educators Conference; the Mathematics Department
Colloquium at Missouri University; and the 14th
International Conference on Difference Equations and
Application in Istanbul, Turkey. In July 2009, Dr.
Lawrence will present at the Equadiff 12 Conference
in Brno, Czech Republic.
Dr. Lawrence has received numerous awards to fund
this project, including a MU-ADVANCE mini-grant, a
WV-EPSCoR travel grant, and a MU Foundation award.
Teaching
Dr. Lawrence currently teaches Advanced Differential
Equations, at both the undergraduate and graduate
levels, and Senior Seminar.
In less than a year, Dr. Lawrence received both the
West Virginia Professor of the Year Award, given
by the Faculty Merit Foundation, and the
Hedrick Outstanding Faculty Award.
She is also a recipient of the Shirley and Marshall
Reynolds Outstanding Teaching Award, and the
Marshall University Distinguished Artists and
Scholars Award for Excellence in All Fields.
Service and Outreach
Dr. Lawrence plans to use the summer to create a kit to
aid high school students in building their own
Differential Analyzer.
She serves on several university committees,
including the Athletic Advisory Council, General
Education Committee, the University Personnel
Committee, and the University Athletic Committee.
Within the Mathematics Department, Dr. Lawrence
served as acting Chair during the Fall 2008
semester, and serves on the Differential Equations
and Advanced Calculus I and II committees. She is
Graduate Committee Chair, the Advisor for
Recruiting, and the TA Advisor. In addition, she is
Chair of the Mathematics Literacy Committee and the
Coordinator of the Recruitment Activities
Committee.
Contact Info
telephone: (304) 696-3040
e-mail:
lawrence@marshall.edu
websites:
http://science.marshall.edu/lawrence
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