College of Arts & Sciences Mathematical Sciences

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USD Math Days for Women

USD Math Days for Women, originated by Dr. Violeta Vasilevska, is a year-long program consisting of three gatherings, including a day-long program in September, a second day-long program in the spring, and an intermediate afternoon meeting between the Fall and Spring Math Days. Dr. Violeta Vasilevska, together with Ms. Clare Wagner, continues to administer, coordinate, implement, and monitor the program. 

Main funding for this program has been provided by the MAA and Tensor Foundation. This program has been hosted by USD, the College of Arts and Sciences and the Department of Mathematical Sciences since 2007.

The goals of the program are to:  
  • encourage high school female students to study mathematics;
  • increase their self-confidence in their own math abilities;
  • foster supportive network connections among the high school girls;
  • provide opportunities to learn that mathematics is useful in many other disciplines; 
  • show them that strong mathematical skills increase the number of career options available post-graduation.

USD Math Days for Women involves hands-on activities with origami, fun math activities involving recreational and practical math games with math prizes to win and presentations on interesting math topics accessible to high school students. About 50 second- through fourth-year female high school students from surrounding area high schools participate in this program.

This Year's Event

 
Schools who have confirmed their participation so far include:
  • Beresford High School
  • Gayville-Volin High School
  • Harrisburg High School
  • Lennox High School
  • Sioux Falls Christian Schools (high school)
  • Vermillion High School
  • Yankton High School
Keynote Speaker
  • Dr. Christine A. Kelley, Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, NE
Invited panelists include:
  • Jeanette McGillicuddy, Principal IT Project Manager, IT Process Engineer, Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, MN
  • Rhonda Hammerquist, Pharmacist, Sanford Health, Sioux Falls, SD
More about USD Math Days for Women:
For more information, please contact us:


Violeta Vasilevska, Ph.D. 
Project Director
Assistant Professor
Department of Mathematical Sciences
The University of South Dakota
605-677-5472
violeta.vasilevska@usd.edu
Clare Wagner, M.A.
Project Co-Director
Senior Instructor
Department of Mathematical Sciences
The University of South Dakota
605-677-5994 
clare.wagner@usd.edu  

 

Hands-on Math

hyperhedra Math Days for Women provides a forum for fun hands-on activities and exchange of ideas.