Mathematics Faculty

B.S., Atlantic Christian College; M.S., Ph.D., North Carolina State University

Bio:

Peggy G. Batten has been teaching at Methodist University since 1993. She received her Ph.D. in Mathematics from North Carolina State University in Raleigh, N.C. She also holds an M.S. degree in Mathematics with a Minor in Operations Research from North Carolina State University. She did her undergraduate work at Atlantic Christian College, now known as Barton College, in Wilson, N.C. She was awarded the 1999 Methodist College Professor of the Year, The Alfred E. Cleveland Award for Excellence in Teaching at Methodist University in 2010, and the Jane Weeks Gardiner Award for Excellence in Academic Advising in 2018. She has taught most of the courses offered in the mathematics department. Dr. Batten has served as an AP Calculus Reader for the Collegeboard. She has two articles published in the journal Communications in Algebra.

Research Interests:

Matrix Theory, Lie Algebras

B.S., M.S., Fayetteville State University

Undergraduate Teaching Areas:

Intro to College Math, College Algebra, Finite Mathematics & Applied Statistics

Research Interests:

Real Analysis and Galois Groups

Personal Interests:

Hunting & Fishing

B.A., M.A.T., University of North Carolina at Wilmington

B.S., Buena Vista University; M.S., Ph.D., Auburn University

Undergraduate Teaching Areas:

First Year Seminar, Intro to College Math, Finite Mathematics, College Algebra, Integrated Pre-calculus, Pre-calculus I, Pre-calculus II, Calculus I, Calculus II, Differential Equations, History of Mathematics, Modern College Geometry, Mathematics for Teachers I, and Mathematics for Teachers II

Research Interests:

Current research focus is in K-16 mathematics education. More specifically, research focus areas include future educators’ mathematical understanding and preparation; teachers’ mathematical content knowledge, understanding, and training; the development of children’s algebraic and geometric understanding, procedural versus conceptual error analysis, the use and understanding of manipulatives; STEM/Mathematical critical thinking; Calculus sequence preparation; and mathematical literacy.

In the area of pure mathematics, prior research focused on boundary value problems for ordinary differential equations and dynamic equations on time scales.

B.S., M.S., Karnatak University; Ph.D., University of Madras

Undergraduate Teaching Areas:

College Algebra, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, Discrete Mathematics, Transition to Abstract Mathematics, Linear Algebra, Modern Algebra, Differential Equations and Advanced Calculus.

Research Interests:

Number Theory, Graph Theory, Discrete Mathematics, and Real Analysis. I also evaluate doctoral theses in Mathematics whenever requested.

Personal Interests:

Traveling, Gardening, and Watching TV News

B.Eng., University of Shanghai; Ph.D., University of Georgia

Bio:

Jie Zhou, who started teaching in graduate school, came to Methodist University in 2014. He enjoys engaging students outside the classroom. He has been coaching students to participate in regional and national collegiate mathematical competitions. In addition, he is the faculty advisor for the math club. His research interests include wavelet analysis, frames, numerical analysis, image processing, and interdisciplinary studies.