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General Interests
"My current research centers on the historical development of mathematical ideas in calculus and modern algebra. In calculus, I have been looking at mathematicians who were working immediately prior to the time of Leibnitz and Newton -- the two individuals usually credited with the discovery of calculus -- and studying their techniques for finding tangents and rectifying curves.
In algebra, I have been studying the history of 19th century invariant theory. Invariant theory all but disappeared at the beginning of the 20th century, but was crucial in the development of commutative ring theory and representation history -- two very important branches of modern algebra. Invariant theory has also been resurrected in the modern work of Mumford and Rota."
Years at Knox: 1995 to present
Education
Ph.D., Mathematics, 1994, Rutgers University.
B.A., Mathematics, Philosophy and Latin, 1989, St. Olaf College.
Teaching Interests
Functions, calculus, differential equations, mathematical statistics, analysis, history of mathematics
Recent Recognition
Awards
Philip Green Wright-Lombard College Prize for Distinguished Teaching, 2003.
Fellowships
ISMAA Project NExT Fellow, 1998.
Recent Accomplishments
Publications
"The Classification of Multiplicity Free Representations." Journal of Lie Theory 8 (1998): 367-391.
"The Contest Problem Book V," by George Berzsenyi and Stephen B. Maurer and "Critical Puzzles," by Michael A. DiSpezio. Available at MAA Online.
Presentations
"Prelude to the Hilbert Basis Theorem." Annual meeting of the Illinois state section of the Mathematical Association of America (ISMAA), Lebanon, Illinois, March 27-28, 1998.
Campus & Community Involvement
Participant, Joint Meeting of the American Mathematical Society and the Mathematical Association of America, Maryland, 1998.
What Students Say
"Professor Leahy is always open and willing to answer questions. No question is 'too stupid' and he can make clear any ambiguous subject. He is concerned with his students and remembers everyone."
-Nahyan Fancy, Mathematics Major
Contact
309-341-7439
aleahy@knox.edu
The award-winning drama, "Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes," by Tony Kushner, is performed at Knox College, Feb. 25-March 6.
Photographs taken by Knox College students at study-abroad programs have won a first place award and two honorable mentions from the Associated Colleges of the Midwest.
"Chapel in the Sky," by Lance Factor reveals Masonic symbols in the architecture of Knox College's Old Main, a National Historic Landmark and Lincoln-Douglas Debate site.
