Francis Edward Su

Francis Edward Su is the Benediktsson-Karwa Professor of Mathematics at Harvey Mudd College. He received his B.S. in Mathematics from the University of Texas at Austin, and his Ph.D. from Harvard University. His research is in geometric and topological combinatorics, motivated by applications in the social sciences. He has held visiting appointments at Cornell University, MSRI, and Caltech. His work has been supported by multiple NSF research grants and he has co-authored numerous papers with undergraduates.

Su also has a passion for teaching and popularizing mathematics. From the Mathematical Association of America, he received the 2001 Hasse Prize for expository writing, and the 2004 Alder Award and the 2013 Haimo Award for distinguished teaching. He has delivered many invited lectures at national and Section meetings, including the 2006 Leitzel Lecture. He authors the popular Math Fun Facts website and iPhone app.

Within the MAA, he has been a Project NExT fellow and a PREP workshop organizer, and he has served on many MAA committees and editorial boards, including the American Mathematical Monthly and Math Horizons. He served as First Vice-President of the Association in 2010-2012.

As President, Su will advance a public vision of mathematics as the backbone of science as beautiful as art, as an endeavor worthy of every human being, as a quest made meaningful by the community that is the MAA: teachers, researchers, expositors and lovers of mathematics.

Su's hobbies include songwriting, gardening, photography, and theology. Just like mathematics, these are all modes of creative expression that blend structure and freedom, truth and beauty, reflection and action.