Work Address:  Department of Mathematics
               Pacific Lutheran University
               Tacoma, WA 98447

Work Phone:    (253) 535-7401
E-mail:        heathdjATplu.edu
   
Home Address:  25415 70th Ave E
               Graham, WA 98338
Home Phone:    (253) 875-5460

• Education:
  • summer, 2006: Park City Mathematics Institute, Park City, UT
    Undergraduate Faculty Program.
  • 2004-2006: Landmark Education, Seattle, WA 98103
    Curriculum for Living (Forum, Advanced Course, and Self Expression and Leadership Program).
  • 2002-2004: Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, WA 98447
    Audits: Weight Training, Ballroom Dance (Fall 2004),
    American Sign Language (Fall 2003),
    Intro to Computer Science [JAVA language] (Fall 2002)
  • 2001-2002: Private classes, Intermediate Spanish.
  • 1998 - 2001: Winona Community Education, Winona, MN 55987
    Various non-degree seeking classes, including American Sign Language.
  • July, 2000: Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, MN
    Workshop: "Integrating Technology in the Teaching of Mathematics."
  • 1996 - 1998: Texas A & M University - Commerce, Texas 75429
    Various [non-degree seeking] graduate courses, including C programming.
  • 1994 - 1995: 奈良女子大学 (Nara Women's University), Nara, Japan, 630
    Post-doctoral Research with Tsuyoshi Kobayashi
  • 1994 - 1995: 奈良日本語学校 (Nara Japanese Language School), Nara, Japan, 630
    Intermediate and Advanced Japanese Language
  • 1988 - 1994: University of California, Davis, California 95616
    M.A., Ph.D. in Mathematics (Low dimensional Topology, or Knot Theory)
    Advisor: Abigail Thompson, Committee: Dmitry Fuchs, Joel Hass
  • 1983 - 1987: St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota 55057
    including involvement in the Budapest Semester in Mathematics Program
    B.A. in Mathematics, cum laude
• Experience:
  • 2006-: KINETIC BOOKS, Seattle, WA.
    Content Editor.
    Edit mathematical content for Kinetic Books: Algebra.
  • 2002-: PACIFIC LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY, Tacoma, WA.
    Associate Professor of Mathematics 2007 - ,
    Site Director, PLU Gateway Study Away Program in Trinidad & Tobago Spring, 2007,
    Assistant Professor of Mathematics 2002 - 2007.
    Teach undergraduate mathematics classes (so far): Linear Models and Calculus, Mathematical Modeling of Society and Culture, Introduction to Calculus, Calculus II, Service Learning in Mathematics, Multivariable Calculus, Introduction to Proof, Geometry, Mathematical Analysis. Have developed Mathematical Modeling of Society and Culture (Math 145) and Service Learning in Mathematics (Math 205). Serve on various committees.
  • 2001-2002: ESCUELA EL ALBA, Siguatepeque, Honduras.
    Director of Science.
    Taught Math and Science at 6-11th grade levels. Built and maintained multiuser science laboratory. Coordinated local science fair.
  • 1998 - 2001: THE MINNESOTA ACADEMY OF MATH & SCIENCE (MAMS), Winona, MN.
    Instructor of Mathematics 1998 - 2001,
    Director of Student Activities 1999 - 2001.
    Taught Calculus I & II (equivalent to Calculus I-III at many colleges), Linear Algebra, C programming, Introduction to Robotics, Advanced (Non-Euclidean) Geometry, Intuitive Math I-IV (Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, and Advanced Algebra). Co-coached the Mathematics Team. Advised student research projects. Set up on and off campus student activities. Created and ran the Academy's "Tuesday Teas" weekly colloquia series. Advised the Academy Chess Club.
  • Summer, 1998: 大阪市立 大学 (OSAKA CITY UNIVERSITY), Osaka, Japan.
    Visiting Research Professor.
    Worked on joint research project.
  • 1995 - 1998: TEXAS A & M UNIVERSITY - COMMERCE, Commerce, TX.
    Assistant Professor of Mathematics.
    Taught Calculus I & III, Geometry, Intermediate (developmental) Algebra, College Algebra, Complex Analysis (undergraduate and graduate), Business Mathematics, Topology, and Trigonometry. Advised student research projects. Served on various committees.
  • Summer, 1997: TIVOLI SYSTEMS, IBM, Austin, TX.
    Software Engineering Intern, Internationalization.
    Worked in verification and as a Japanese translator; also helped locating hard-coded English messages and re-coding into message catalogs. Worked with CVS, Make, and briefly with CMVC. Demonstrated the Japanese Tivoli Management System at Marketing Seminar.
  • 1994 - 1995: 奈良女子大学 (NARA WOMEN'S UNIVERSITY), Nara, Japan.
    特別外国研究員 (NSF-nominated Japan Society for the Promotion of Science [JSPS] Post-doctoral Research Fellow.)
    Duties included research and teaching of frequent graduate and research level seminars.
  • 1988 - 1994: UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS, Davis, CA.
    Promoted to Associate Instructor from initial position as a Teaching Assistant.
    As a Teaching Assistant, instructed Math Laboratories in addition to grading tests, holding office hours, and occasionally teaching in professors' absences. As an Associate Instructor, taught Intermediate (developmental) Algebra, Calculus 1, 2, and 3, and Linear Algebra.
  • 1983 - 1989: ST. OLAF COLLEGE, Northfield, MN.
    Tutor and Math Clinic Instructor.
    Taught Math Clinics (office hours without the office) and tutored for both the mathematics and chemistry departments.
• Publications:
  • Applets, Functions, and a Dynamic Understanding of Calculus, with T. Hodgson and D. Schultz, ON-Math Online Journal of School Mathematics, Vol. 4, No. 1, 2006. Refereed.
  • Unknotting Tunnels for P(-2,3,7), with H. J. Song, J. of Knot Theory and its Ramifications, Vol. 14, No. 8, (2005). Refereed.
  • A Search Method for Thin Positions of a Link, with T. Kobayashi, Geom. & Alg. Topology, Vol. 5, (2005). Refereed.
  • On Locally Thin Position, with T. Kobayashi, Kobe J. Math, Vol. 20, (2003). Refereed.
  • MAPLE Animations for Teaching Mathematics, www.calculus.org, (2002).
  • Teaching for Mathematical Creativity, with S. Eddins and D. Teague, International Congress of Mathematics Education 9 (2000). Invited.
  • Mathematica Animations for Teaching Mathematics, www.calculus.org, (2000). This included links to animations and code to create animations for teaching mathematics, especially calculus.
  • On Classification of Heegaard Splittings and Triangulations, Pac. Jour. Math., Vol.178, No.2, (1997). Refereed.
  • On Classification of Heegaard Splittings, Osaka Jour. Math., Vol. 34, (1997). Refereed.
  • Essential Tangle Decomposition from Thin Position of a Link, with T. Kobayashi, Pac. Jour. Math., Vol. 179, No. 1, (1997). Refereed.
  • Thin Position and the Recognition Problem for S³, 三次元多様体の単体分割とその周辺. (This is a Japanese translation of a paper by A. Thompson with my own added illustrations.) 1997.
  • 結び目の Thin Position について, with T. Kobayashi, The Art of Low Dimensional Topology.
  • On Haken's Algorithm and Immersed Surfaces, Kobe Jour. Math., Vol. 13 No. 1 (1996). Refereed.
  • Heegaard Splittings of the Figure-8 Knot Complement are Standard, 結び目の代数と位相と幾何. (Although not refeereed, this paper received much attention as the [correct] result was a surprise to the mathematical community.)
  • Heegaard Splittings of I-bundles and RP² x S¹ are Standard, dissertation, University of California at Davis, March 1994.
• Accepted for Publication
  • Symmetric and Alternating Groups Generated by a Full Cycle and Another Element, with M. Isaacs, J. Kiltenen, and J. Sklar to appear in The American Mathematical Monthly. Refereed.
• Software appearing with MyMathLab & MathXL online courses accompanying Thomas' Calculus, 11th Edition
  • Fourier: Demonstrates the concept of Fourier series approximating periodic functions.
  • Integral: A hands-on moving picture of the definite integral using the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus.
  • Taylor: Shows how functions can be approximated by Taylor polynomials with increasing accuracy.
• Other software written for teaching mathematics, 2003-:
  • Pre-Calculus: Cycloid, Roots, Trig
  • Calculus I & II: Arclength, Deriv, Epsilon, Limit, Riemann, Secant
  • Calculus III: Gradient, Multivar, TanPlane
  • Geometry: φ-curve, Mandel, Newt3, Newt4, Tilings
  • Non-Euclidean Geometry: Geometry Playground allows the user to make straightedge and compass constructions in multiple geometries.
  • Probability & Statistics: MonteCarlo, Set
  • Abstract Algebra: Sym1, 2, 3
• Papers, Posters, & Colloquia Presented:
  • Scissors and Tape Topology, PLU Mathematics Seminar, October 24, 2007.
  • Fundamentals of Knot Theory, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad Mathematics Seminar, February 28, 2007.
  • Calculus Visualization via Java Applets "Calculus: From the Classroom to the Concrete" conference in Bellingham, WA, May 20, 2006, Invited.
  • Adapting WebWork and Maple for Appropriate Use in Calculus, Poster Session, AMS-MAA joint meetings in Atlanta, January 7, 2005.
  • An Introduction to Knot Invariants, UPS Mathematics Seminar, November 3, 2004.
  • Polyhedral Decomposition of Knot Complements, PLU Mathematics Seminar, October 13, 2004.
  • On Locally Thin Position, First International K.O.O.K. Seminar, Awaji, Japan, July 13, 2004.
  • Use of Technology in Teaching Mathematics, PLU Mathematics Seminar, February 18, 2004.
  • Use of Technology in Teaching Mathematics, University of Columbo, January 20, 2004. Invited.
  • Using Java Applets to Aid Visualization of Concepts in Calculus, International Conference on the Teaching of Calculus, University of Kerala, January 14, 2004.
  • A Mathematician's Guide to Knots, PLU Mathematics Seminar, October 8, 2003.
  • Thin Position for Knots, Nara Women's University Danwakai, July 25, 2003. Invited.
  • Using Visualization Technology for Teaching Calculus, Nara Women's University High School Extension, July 8, 2003.
  • A Parallel Development of Non-Euclidean Models, Nara Women's University Topology Seminar Series, July 2, 2003. Invited.
  • McDonalds and the Area of a Circle? PLU Mathematics Seminar, March 12, 2003.
  • Religion and Science, The Minnesota Academy of Math & Science's Tuesday Tea Colloquium Series, April 4, 2000.
  • The Science of Party Tricks, The Minnesota Academy of Math & Science's Tuesday Tea Colloquium Series, November 9, 1999.
  • Calculating Harmonics, The Minnesota Academy of Math & Science's Tuesday Tea Colloquium Series, September 7, 1999.
  • On Tricoloration of Knots, The Minnesota Academy of Math & Science, June 11, 1998.
  • Darts, Hamburgers, and Area in Hyperbolic Space, Connecticut College, June 4, 1998.
  • On Thin Position for Knots, Texas A & M University -- Commerce Sigma Xi Dinner, October 30, 1997. Invited.
  • Darts, Hamburgers, and Area in Hyperbolic Space, Texas A & M University -- Commerce Student/Faculty Colloquia Series, October 1, 1997.
  • On Locally Thin Position, Texas Section MAA meeting, Texas Lutheran University, April 4, 1997.
  • Newton's Method in the Complex Plane, Texas A & M University - Commerce Student/Faculty Colloquia Series, January 24, 1996.
  • What is Knot Theory and Who Cares?, East Texas State University Student/Faculty Colloquia Series, October 18, 1995.
  • On Classification of Heegaard Splittings and the Figure-8 Knot Complement, The Georgia Topology Conference, University of Georgia, August 8, 1995. Invited.
  • Thin Position について (About Thin Position), Osaka City University Colloquium, July 7, 1995. Invited.
  • Heegaard Splittings and 3-space, East Texas State University, April 19, 1995.
  • ヘーガード分解について (On Heegaard Decomposition), Nara Women's University Monthly Colloquium, February 1, 1995. Invited.
  • On Uniqueness of Heegaard Splittings, Tokyo Industrial University, December 21, 1994. Invited.
  • ヘーガード分解と単体分割の関係 (The Relationship Between Heegaard Splittings and Triangulations), Osaka University Topology Colloquium, December 7, 1994. Invited.
  • A Canonical Decomposition of Thin Position for a Link, Shizuoka Symposium on Foliations, October 26, 1994. Invited.
  • Singular Foliations and Triangulations of Some 3-manifolds, given in Japanese, Intercollegiate Knot Theory Symposium, October 12, 1994. Invited.
  • On Haken's Algorithm and Immersed Surfaces, Osaka City University, July 12, 1994. Invited.
  • Heegaard Splittings of Twisted I-bundles are Standard, University of California, Davis, February 16 & 23, 1994.
  • On Haken's Theorem and its Generalization to Arbitrary Immersed Surfaces in M³, Topology Seminar, University of California, Davis, November 18, 1993.
  • Heegaard Splittings and Homotopy of Incompressible Surfaces, Tsukuba University, September 10, 1993. Invited.
  • Heegaard Splittings of Non-orientable 3-manifolds, Osaka City University, August 27, 1993. Invited.
  • 2-knots in 4-space, University of California, Davis, May 9, 1992.
• Scholarships, Fellowships, Grants & Awards:
  • Diversity Advocate Award from the PLU Diversity Center, May, 2005.
  • Outstanding Service Award from the PLU Volunteer Center, April, 2005.
  • PLU Center for Teaching & Learning Teaching Award, 2004.
  • Wang Center Faculty International Travel Award for travel to continue work on a joint research project with T. Kobayashi of Nara Women's University of Japan, $1400, July, 2004.
  • Regency Advancement Award from PLU to work on a research project with T. Kobayashi of Nara Women's University of Japan, $3500, summer, 2003.
  • CCLI: Served on the committee which wrote a successful NSF CCLI (Course, Curriculum & Laboratory Improvement) grant totalling approximately $140,000 from NSF and $70,000 from PLU. This committee made proposals which led not only to the successful grant, but to a department-wide agreement concerning the use of technology in teaching mathematics, 2002-3.
  • Equipment grant from The Minnesota Preparatory Schools, Inc. provided approximately $60,000 in science equipment to supply the laboratory at Escuela El Alba.
  • Fellowship to Participate in Texas Project NExT (New Experiences in Teaching) from the Exxon Education Foundation, 1996, 1997.
  • Commerce Literacy Program, I wrote a successful mini-grant proposal for the ESL branch of the CLP. The idea was for the program to host a dinner-and-murder type role playing party as an ESL class. The event was used both to heighten interest in the program and to teach English in a creative, fun, and unusual way. The CLP helps adult students learn to speak English, read, write, and do basic mathematics leading to their GED (high school equivalency).
  • NSF-nominated JSPS (Japan Society for the Promotion of Science) Research Fellow, from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, May 1994 - July 1995.
• Service:
  • Panelist for Harstad Hall's ``Project Mercy" kickoff, April 10, 2006.
  • MESA day storyteller, 2006.
  • South Sound Regional Science Fair Judge, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008.
  • Led Weekly Meditation Sessions at Student Health Center during Wellness Challenge, Fall 2005.
  • PLU Instructional Resources Committee, Secretary, 2005-6.
  • PLU Math Department Curriculum Review Committee, 2002-4, 2005-8
  • PLU First-year Advisor, 2003-4, 5-6.
  • API (Asian Pacific Islander) Club Faculty Advisor, 2004-6.
  • Washington High School Math Festival Judge, 2004, 5.
  • Taught meditation workshop for the Asian Pacific Islander Club Festival, April 14, 2005.
  • The Bush School Mathematicians Project Consultant, March, 2003, 4, 5.
  • Panelist for the Faith and Reason Dialogue "Human Suffering and Our Compassion: How do we make sense of the world's brokenness and respond with care and concern," February 24, 2005.
  • PLU Math Department Modeling Competition Co-organizer, 2004,5.
  • Taught "Practical Buddhist Meditation for the Devout Christian," Religious Activities event for Hinderlie Hall, December 8, 2004.
  • PLU Fall Preview Day, September 2004, 5.
  • PLU Math Department Calculus Book Committee, 2003-4.
  • PLU Majors Fair, October 28, 2003.
  • PLU Open House, September 21, 2003.
  • GEAR-UP, teachers and administrators dedicated to combating math illiteracy locally, 2003-4.
  • PLU Math Department Webmaster, 2003-4.
  • PLU CHAOS Mathematics Club Co-Advisor (with J. Sklar), 2003-4.
  • South Sound Regional Science Fair Mentor, 2003.
  • Contributing Editor, calculus.org, 2003-
  • PLU Math CCLI Grant Committee, 2002.
  • PLU Math Department Minutes Taker, 2002-3.
  • MAMS Chemistry/Biochemistry Instructor Search Committee Chair, 2000.
  • MAMS Tuesday Tea Colloquia Series Organizer, 1999-2001.
  • MAMS Director of Student Activities, 1999-2001.
  • TAMU-C College Algebra Book Committee Chair, 1997.
  • TAMU-C Multicultural International Festival Planning Committee, 1996, 1997.
  • TAMU-C Mathematics Department Alumni Newsletter Editor, 1996, 1997.
  • TAMU-C Mathematics Department Webpage Creator and Webmaster, 1996-1998.
  • English Advisor (aided in translation), A Survey of Knot Theory, edited by Akio Kawauchi, published by Birkhäuser Verlag, 1996.
• Capstone Projects Advised:
  • James Jahnsen: Tuning and Temperment (BMA), 2006.
  • William Conine: Elementary Complex Analysis, 2005-6.
  • Mary Hansen: Exploring Geometric Constructions, 2005-6.
  • Laurel Williams: A Study of Hyperbolic Geometry, 2005-6.
  • Darren Struthers: Stochastic Music of Milton Babbitt (BMA), 2005-6.
  • Kenneth Westcott: Mathematical Modeling of French Horn Mouthpieces (BMA), 2005-6.
  • Mollie Lisle: On n-colorability of Knots, 2004-5.
  • Chelsea Berg: Grouping of Knots, 2004-5.
  • Andy Callendar: The Mathematics of Music, 2003-4.
  • Megan Ossiander: The Shape of a Quest: Finding the Shape of a 2-dimensional Manifold, 2002-3.
  • Carrie Kishline: Angels and Devils: Tiling in the Poincaré Model of Hyperbolic Geometry, 2002-3.
• Other Activities:
  • Caretaker (with wife Yumiko) for the Morse Wildlife Preserve, Graham, WA, 2005-
  • Advised "Hope 'Scopes" student group organizing microscope donations to educators in developing countries. The group now has representatives at St. Martin's University, Willamette, and UPS as well as PLU. 2005-.
  • Donated a $1040 yearly scholarship to allow a child of the Tierra Santa Hogar para Niños Abandonados (Holy Land Home for Abandoned Children) to attend the El Alba Bilingual School, 2003-4, 4-5, 5-6.
  • Local Science Fair Organizer, El Alba, Siguatepeque, Honduras, 2002.
  • Faculty advisor for the Minnesota Preparatory Schools' Chess Club, 2000-2001.
  • Co-coached the Cotter High School Mathematics Team, 1998-2001. We came in 2^nd in our division in both 1999 and 2000, and won the division in 2001.
  • Advised three student research projects presented at the 1997 Texas Section MAA meeting at Texas Lutheran University, April 4, 1997. These included:
    • P-adic metrics on Fields of non-zero Characteristic, by Dale Henderson, undergraduate,
    • On n-colorability of Links, by Lane Parrish.
    • Symmetry of k-th degree Mandelbrot sets, by Jeffrey Norris.
    The latter was converted to poster form for a local science fair and won the award for best poster presentation.
  • Involved in the TAMU-C Supplemental Instruction Program, 1996, 1997
  • Involved in the TAMU-C Freshman Success Seminar Program, 1996-1998
• Other Teaching Experience:
  • Have taught 6-12, undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate mathematics.
  • Have often used computers in the classroom, and have designed web notes for two Advanced Geometry classes.
  • Have taught numerous introductory meditation workshops. Have used meditation training in the math classroom to help students overcome math anxiety.
  • Though I have no distance education classroom experience, I have undergone distance education training at the Texas A & M - GTE Center for Distance Learning Research.
  • Have taught "Fundamentals of Precious Metalsmithing" (gold and silver smithing) for the UCD Craft Center while attending graduate school.
  • Have taught English as a Second Language for the Japanese Christian Church in Suzuka, Japan, in 1987-8.
  • Have taught sailing and archery at Camp Nathaniel (summer boys' camp) during high school.
• Other Interests:
  • I play harmonica, clarinet, and bowed saw in "The Foreman Quintet."
  • I speak Japanese fluently, though I read at only about the 6th grade level. I am conversant but not fluent in Spanish and American Sign Language, and can read but not speak Hungarian and French.