Gerard Venema Elected Associate Secretary of the MAA

Gerard Venema Elected Associate Secretary of the MAA

August 28, 2007

The MAA's Board of Governors has elected Gerard A. Venema of Calvin College in Grands Rapids, Mich., as the organization's next Associate Secretary. He begins his five-year term in January, 2009.

Venema, a specialist in topology, has been a member of the MAA for more than three decades. Currently an associate editor of The American Mathematical Monthly, Venema has served as a member of the CUPM Subcommittee on Research by Undergraduates; as a consultant to Project NExT; and as Chair of the Michigan Section. He has an impressive record of publications and invited talks and extensive experience in organizing workshops and conferences.

As the MAA's Associate Secretary, Venema will oversee the scientific programs of the MAA's two national meetings: the Joint Mathematics Meetings, held in conjunction with the American Mathematical Society (AMS); and the MAA's summer meeting, MathFest. Venema's primary responsibilities will include putting together sessions and securing invited speakers for the scientific programs of the national meetings; and overseeing the organization of minicourses, short courses, social events, and other activities held in conjunction with these meetings. Additional responsibilities include participation in logistics and on-site support.

Venema will work with the MAA's Executive Committee, with AMS officers, and with MAA and AMS meetings staff. He will chair the MAA's MathFest Management Committee and alternate chairing the Joint Meetings Committee with the AMS Secretary.

Before taking office in 2009, Venema will serve as Associate Secretary Elect, working with current Associate Secretary James J. Tattersall of Providence College.