Skip to Main Content

Andrew Leahy

Professor of Mathematics

Andrew Leahy

Meet Professor Leahy 

Years at Knox: 1995 to present

"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."

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.

Selected Professional Accomplishments

Honors/Grants

  • ACM Mellon Faculty Career Enhancement Grant with Jonathan White, Tyler Skorczewski, Eric Egge, and Andrea Young, "Engaging the Community of ACM Mathematicians," Associated Colleges of the Midwest, 2016-2017.
  • Philip Green Wright-Lombard College Prize for Distinguished Teaching, 2003.
  • ISMAA Project NExT Fellow, 1998.

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.

Presentations

"The Central Role of Centers of Gravity in Early Modern Mathematics," MAA Mathfest 2016, Columbus, OH. August 3-6, 2016.

"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