The Mathematical Association of America (MAA) is excited to share the results of its recent elections, which include the selection of Edray Goins, PhD, as president-elect and Yvonee Lai, PhD, as vice president.

President-Elect: Edray Goins

Edray Goins, Professor of Mathematics and Statistics at Pomona College, will take office as the MAA’s president-elect on July 1, 2026. 

Goins has held a wide range of leadership roles within the MAA, including Past Chair of the MAA Congress and service on numerous committees such as the Council on Prizes and Awards and the MAA Board of Directors. 

Reflecting on his extensive experience, Goins said, “The landscape of the mathematical sciences community is rapidly changing. I have been fortunate to give more than 300 invited addresses and to secure more than $1,370,000 in external funding. I have also been quite fortunate to be able to witness various aspects of the community through my service on the Boards of four of the six Math Institutes (AIM, ICERM, IPAM, and SLMath) as well as an external reviewer for four Mathematics Departments (Bard, Grinnell, Occidental, and St. Olaf).”

Goins received his BS in Mathematics and Physics from the California Institute of Technology and his PhD in mathematics from Stanford University. 

“We collectively are going to have to rethink our traditional models of how we create a community. I’m as nervous as anyone about what the future holds, but I believe the MAA is the right organization to lead this conversation,” Goins said. “Yes, we MAA members continue to value the power and beauty of mathematics AND we promote human flourishing. Times will be hard, for sure, but I look forward to navigating it together!”

Vice President-Elect: Yvonne Lai

Yvonne Lai, Milton E. Mohr Professor and Graduate Chair at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, will take office as the MAA’s vice president on July 1, 2026. 

Lai brings deep experience in mathematics education, leadership, and research. She has held several leadership roles in the MAA, including chair of MAA’s Committee on the Mathematical Education of Teachers (COMET) and co-founder of the SIGMAA on Mathematical Knowledge for Teaching (SIGMAA-MKT).  

“I went to my first MAA MathFest in 1996, knowing little except that I loved mathematics and wanted better mathematics education for all students. I came away with eyes opened that as a professional mathematician, you could care deeply about mathematics and education, and contribute to both,” Lai stated. “The MAA means a lot to me because it believes in growing the mathematical community, in all senses. The MAA helps faculty develop, holds an expansive view of who belongs in the community, and creates opportunities for the next generation.” 

Lai has an SB in mathematics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a PhD in mathematics from the University of California, Davis. 

About MAA

The Mathematical Association of America is the world’s largest community of mathematicians, students, and enthusiasts. We accelerate the understanding of our world through mathematics because mathematics drives society and shapes our lives. Learn more at maa.org.