Gerald L. Alexanderson

Gerald Lee Alexanderson
Born(1933-11-13)November 13, 1933
DiedDecember 16, 2020(2020-12-16) (aged 87)
Board member of
  • The Fibonacci Association
  • Mathematical Association of America
Academic background
Education
  • University of Oregon (B.A. 1955)
  • Stanford University (PhD 1958)
Influences
  • Ivan Niven
  • George Pólya
Academic work
DisciplineMathematics
Sub-discipline
  • Combinatorics
  • Number theory
InstitutionsSanta Clara University

Gerald Lee Alexanderson (November 13, 1933 – December 16, 2020) was an American mathematician who studied combinatorics and number theory.[1] He was the Michael & Elizabeth Valeriote Professor of Science at Santa Clara University, and in 1997–1998 was president of the Mathematical Association of America. He was also president of The Fibonacci Association from 1980 to 1984.[2][3]

Education and career

Alexanderson did his undergraduate studies at the University of Oregon, graduating with a B.A. in 1955. He earned a master's degree from Stanford University in 1958, and in the same year joined the Santa Clara University faculty. At Santa Clara, he chaired the Department of Mathematics (later the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science) for 35 years, from 1967 to 2002.[2][3] He also served as the Division Director of Physical Sciences and Mathematics.[1] Abraham Hillman was his most frequent co-author.[4] As a student, his greatest influences have been Ivan Niven and George Pólya.[1]

He was the co-author, editor, or co-editor of 15 books. He served as the editor of Mathematics Magazine from 1986 to 1990,[2][3] and was the associate editor of The American Mathematical Monthly and The College Mathematics Journal.[1]

He actively promoted competitions in mathematics, and served as the associate director of the William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition.[1]

Awards and honors

In 2005, Alexanderson won both one of the Deborah and Franklin Haimo Awards for Distinguished College or University Teaching of Mathematics,[2][5] and the Yueh-Gin Gung and Dr. Charles Y. Hu Award for Distinguished Service to Mathematics,[2][6] both from the Mathematical Association of America.

Selected publications

As author

  • with Abraham Hillman: Functional trigonometry: trigonometry integrated with vectors, complex numbers, analytic geometry, and elementary functions. 1961.
  • with Abraham Hillman: Algebra and trigonometry: a treatment of algebra and trigonometry integrated with vectors, complex numbers, and elementary functions. 1963. 4 editions
  • with Abraham Hillman: Algebra through problem solving. 1966. 7 editions
  • with Abraham Hillman: A first undergraduate course in abstract algebra. 1973. 16 editions
  • with Donald J. Albers and Constance Reid: International mathematical congresses : an illustrated history, 1893-1986. New York: Springer-Verlag. 1986.; Albers, Donald J.; Alexanderson, Gerald L.; Reid, Constance (6 December 2012). 2012 pbk reprint. Springer. ISBN 9781468402995. 29 editions
  • with Abraham Hillman and Richard M. Grassi: Discrete and combinatorial mathematics. 1987. 8 editions

As editor

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Obituary for Gerald ("Jerry") L. Alexanderson". Mathematical Association of America. December 22, 2020. Archived from the original on September 29, 2023. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e Gerald Lee Alexanderson, 1997-1998 MAA President, MAA Presidents, Mathematical Association of America, retrieved 2014-06-26.
  3. ^ a b c Curriculum vitae Archived 2022-01-16 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved 2014-06-26.
  4. ^ "Memorial: Abraham Hillman *50". Princeton Alumni Weekly. 2004.
  5. ^ Haimo Award citation, Mathematical Association of America, retrieved 2014-06-26.
  6. ^ Megginson, Robert E. (March 2005), "Yueh-Gin Gung and Dr. Charles Y. Hu Award to Gerald L. Alexanderson for Distinguished Service to Mathematics", American Mathematical Monthly, 112 (3): 197–199, doi:10.2307/30037437, JSTOR 30037437.
  7. ^ Gillman, Leonard (1996). "Review of Lion Hunting and Other Mathematical Pursuits. A Collection of Mathematics, Verser and Stories by Ralph P. Boas, Jr., edited by Gerald L. Alexanderson and Dale H. Mugler". The American Mathematical Monthly. 103 (7): 607. doi:10.2307/2974683. ISSN 0002-9890. JSTOR 2974683.
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