Mathematics

Dr. Murphy Waggoner

Dr. Murphy Waggoner Martha Ellen (Murphy) Waggoner
Professor of Mathematics
Simpson College
Indianola, Iowa

Brief Vita:

  • B.S., Mathematics, Arkansas Tech University, 1981
  • M.S., Mathematics, Oklahoma State University, 1988
  • Ed.D., Mathematics - College Teaching, Oklahoma State University, 1994
  • From 1981 to 1984, I worked as a computer programmer/analyst for Phillips Petroleum in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. From 1984 to 1992 I alternately attended Oklahoma State University and worked as programmer/analyst for Frontier Engineering and Butler Manufacturing. Before joining the Simpson Faculty, I taught as an instructor at Oklahoma State University, Duke University,and Durham Technical Community College. From Summer 1999 to Fall 2002 I was the director of Simpson's First Year Program.
  • Vita
  • Courses Taught

Teaching Interests:

  • I have been trying to develop projects for use in linear algebra.  These projects have students complete readings in linear algebra applications, complete problem sets on the readings, and then the students present their findings to the rest of the class.  I gave a talk at the Joint Meetings of the MAA and AMS in DC in January 2009 on these projects.  Here is the presentation I gave, the description of the projects, the assignment and grading rubric and the peer review form.
  • I am interesting in projects based learning, writing as an integral part of the mathematics curriculum, and undergraduate research.
  • I have written or collected almost 750 writing prompts to be used in Calculus I, II and III and writing prompts to be used in Complex Variables.
  • Here are a couple of grading rubrics I use to grade journals and reflective portfolios.
  • Recently I have used quiltmaking as a way to help students in Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers to make connections between analytical, verbal and visual representations of mathematics.
  • I am also the director of an annual undergraduate mathematics symposium.
  • As a graduate student, my research was in algebraic geometry.  My research students work on topics from complex variables, regression analysis, numerical analysis, dynamical systems and graph theory.  Lately, my students and I have become interested in the mathematics of origami.

Other Interests:

  • Outside of the classroom, I am involved in several volunteer organizations. I am on the board of the Warren County affiliate of Habitat for Humanity.
  • I have been involved with Habitat for Humanity since 1985 and have been on or led 15 mission trips for Habitat or related missions.  Besides domestic mission trips, I have been to Fiji twice, once to the village of Nasavu in 1998 and then to the village Yavulo in 2000.
  • Two mission trips that I led were to Hungary:  in 2001 we worked in Dunavarsany and in 2004 I returned to Hungary to go to Csurgo.
  • In May of 1999,a smaller group of students and I will traveled to Appalachia to work with the Christian Appalachian Project.
  • I also volunteer my time to Simpson's athletic program by organizing and working on the the chain crew at our home football games.

Personal links:

  • Stories about my family and growing up.

Last Updated: 4/21/09