New Chair and Associate Chair Named for BYU Department of Mathematics Education

Steven R. Williams

Steven R. Williams has accepted an appointment to serve as Chair of the BYU Mathematics Education Department effective June 1, 2008. Williams replaces Gerald M. Armstrong who has served as Chair of the department since its formation in August 2000.

Blake E. Peterson will continue his service as Associate Chair of the department. Born and raised in Logan, Utah, Peterson graduated from Utah State University receiving a B.S. degree in Secondary Education with an emphasis in Mathematics and Computer Science. He received his M.S. (1990) and Ph.D. (1993) degrees from Washington State University, and subsequently taught at Oregon State University for three years. Dr. Peterson joined the BYU Mathematics Education faculty in 1996. His research interests include the nature of the mathematical dialogue that occurs among teachers, particularly during student teaching, both in the United States and Japan.

Dr. Peterson is married to the former Shauna Davis, and they are the parents of four children.

Steven R. Williams received his B.S. (1980) and M.S. (1983) degrees in Mathematics from Brigham Young University, and his Ph.D. (1989) from University of Wisconsin-Madison. He subsequently taught at Washington State University for four years, and joined the BYU Mathematics Education faculty in 1993. His current research surrounds the uncovering and understanding of the discursive practices that underlie mathematics as done by mathematicians, traditional school mathematics, and reform-oriented school mathematics, and the implication of these discursive practices for schools and students, especially in regards to equity issues.

Dr. Williams is married to the former Betsy Hall, and they are the parents of four children.