AWM at MathFest 2025

Sacramento, CA, August 6-9, 2025
All times are Pacific Daylight Time

AWM-MAA Etta Zuber Falconer Lecture
Modeling Malaria at Multiple Scales: Implications for Parasite Diversity

Olivia Prosper Feldman, University of Tennessee
Thursday, August 7, 9:00 am – 9:50 am
Ballroom A1-6

Malaria remains a major global health challenge, driven by the complex interactions between parasites, their human and mosquito hosts, and the environments they inhabit. Since the pioneering work of Sir Ronald Ross and George Macdonald in the early to mid-20th century, mathematical modeling has provided invaluable insights into malaria transmission, from within-host parasite dynamics to population-level epidemiology. More recently, research has focused on how these scales interact, shaping transmission patterns and informing control strategies.

In this talk, I will introduce an individual-based model that integrates within-mosquito and within-human parasite dynamics with population-level transmission. This model also tracks the genetic signatures of parasites, offering insights into how genetic diversity emerges, spreads, and interacts with human immunity and antimalarial treatment. By bridging multiple scales, this approach aims to deepen our understanding of malaria transmission and inform more effective intervention strategies.

Biography
Dr. Olivia (Prosper) Feldman is an Associate Professor of Mathematics whose research sits at the intersection of mathematics and biology, with a particular focus on infectious disease modeling. She earned her Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Florida in 2012, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at Dartmouth College and an assistant professorship at the University of Kentucky. Currently at the University of Tennessee, Dr. Feldman has received numerous accolades, including an NSF CAREER award, the Intercollegiate Biomathematics Alliance Excellence in Research award, and the university’s Professional Promise in Research & Creative Achievement award.

Her research explores the complex dynamics of infectious diseases, using mathematical modeling to understand how heterogeneities influence disease spread and control measures. Her work spans multiple scales, from within-host parasite dynamics to population-level transmission, with applications in vector-borne diseases such as malaria. Recent projects investigate the role of economics in disease transmission, the spread of drug-resistant pathogens, the evolution of parasite diversity within vectors, and the impact of immunity on disease prevalence. Dr. Feldman is also advancing methodologies to enhance the identifiability of epidemiological models, strengthening their predictive power for public health interventions. Through her interdisciplinary approach, Dr. Feldman continues to advance mathematical epidemiology, providing critical insights into disease dynamics and informing strategies for disease control.

Panel: Mental Health in the Mathematics Community: The Conversation Doesn’t End

Thursday, August 7, 1:30 pm – 2:50 pm
Ballroom B1

All members of the mathematics community are invited to join the panel on “Mental Health in the Mathematics Community: The Conversation Doesn’t End”. Mental health remains a topic of widespread concern in the mathematics community. The session will include strategies for improving the mental health of individuals and groups. It will also allow for the sharing of progress that has been made locally and more globally in addressing some of the common issues that negatively impact the mental health of faculty, students, and other members of the mathematics community. Attendees will benefit from the professional and personal experiences of the panelists, who collectively contribute diverse perspectives as faculty members, researchers in the emotional aspects of learning mathematics, and mental health specialists. We once again hope to encourage an open and empathetic dialogue to raise awareness, inspire positive change, and improve the well-being of our unique and vibrant community.

Panelists:
Geillan Aly, Compassionate Math
F. Taína Amaro, Cadence Consulting
Tim Chartier, Davidson College
Jeff Johannes, SUNY Geneseo
Emille Lawrence, University of San Francisco

Moderator: Jeanette Shakalli, Panamanian Foundation for the Promotion of Mathematics (FUNDAPROMAT)

Organizers:
Jeanette Shakalli, Panamanian Foundation for the Promotion of Mathematics (FUNDAPROMAT)
Mariana Vega, Western Washington University
Julia Plavnik, Indiana University Bloomington
Sarah Kerrigan, George Fox University
Jessie Loucks-Tavitas, California State University, Sacramento

AWM-MAA Invited Paper Session aligned with the Falconer Lecture:
Mathematical Insights at Different Biological Scales

Friday, August 8, 8:00 am – 9:50 am
Meeting Room 11

Mathematical models of biological processes have traditionally focused on individual scales, from intracellular dynamics to population-level interactions across landscapes. In recent years, understanding how these scales interact has become essential for gaining deeper insights into complex biological systems. Bridging these scales presents significant mathematical challenges and remains a growing area of research within the mathematical biology community. This session will feature speakers addressing a range of biologically motivated problems that require diverse mathematical approaches to capture the connections and feedback mechanisms across scales. Through their work, they will highlight the biological insights gained from these methods.

Organizers:
Olivia (Prosper) Feldman, University of Tennessee
Lauren Childs, Virginia Tech
Jordan Pellett, University of Tennessee

Panel: Sonia Kovalevsky Days

Friday, August 8, 2:00 pm – 3:20 pm
Meeting Room 3

All members of the mathematics community are invited to join the panel on “Sonia Kovalevsky Days”. For more than twenty years, Sonia Kovalevsky Days (SK Days) have been organized by members of the Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM) and held at colleges and universities throughout the country. SK Days consist of a program of workshops, talks, and problem-solving competitions for elementary, middle, and high school students and their teachers, both women and men. The purposes are to encourage young women to continue their study of mathematics; to assist them with the sometimes difficult transitions between mathematics in elementary and middle school, middle and high school, or high school and college; to assist the teachers of women mathematics students; and to encourage colleges and universities to develop more extensive cooperation with K-12 schools in their area. Attendees will hear from panelists who have run SK Days, providing them with information about how they have implemented the AWM program and advice on how they, too, can get started. We aim to empower more members of the mathematics community to return to their own institutions and organize SK Days throughout the world.

Panelists:
Jennifer Austin, University of Texas at Austin
Jessie Hamm, Winthrop University
Elizabeth Hale, Florida Polytechnic University
Adriana M. Ortiz Aquino, Whitman College
Andrea Arnold, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Janet Page, North Dakota State University

Moderator: Shanise Walker Clark, Atlanta University

Mathematical Games and Puzzles: Fun for All!

Friday, August 8, 3:30 pm – 4:20 pm
Ballroom B3

Join us for some fun with mathematical games and puzzles! For many in the mathematics community, games or puzzles sparked our initial interest in mathematics. Such activities continue to serve as a source of enjoyment and entertainment. This highly-interactive workshop aims to bring faculty, students, and other members of the mathematics community of all ages together to experience new mathematical games and puzzles and to share their own favorites. Some will involve physical components, while others may be played with pencil and paper alone. (Feel free to bring one in any form!) After learning of new mathematical games and puzzles, participants can return home to share them with others. Perhaps you will incorporate a game or puzzle into a course or research experience, develop an associated activity for a science festival, share the fun with math club members, or simply play with friends and family.

Student Dessert Reception

Friday, August 8, 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Exhibit Hall

Come join us to celebrate some amazing student accomplishments! The four AWM Student Chapter Awards will be presented during this reception

Visit the AWM Booth in the Exhibit Hall

Swing by the virtual AWM booth, buy a t-shirt, get some AWM swag, learn about the many programs AWM has to offer and meet other AWM’ers! Are you interested in volunteering your time at the booth? Email ed.admin@awm-math.org to volunteer.