I have been at Furman since 2006, and I am currently an
Associate Professor in the Mathematics Department. My academic background includes an
undergraduate degree in Mathematics from Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas
(my home state), a Master’s and Ph.D. in Mathematical Sciences from Clemson
University. In between my graduate
degrees, I spent two years working in industry as an Operations Research
Analyst helping a manufacturing company design an efficient operational layout
to minimize material movement within a new plant it was building. While in industry I loved working on new and
interesting problems, but I found that I wanted more time and independence to
really study the mathematics behind the problems, so I went back to school to
pursue a Ph.D. emphasizing Operations Research.
This industrial experience had a big impact on the types of mathematical
research problems that interest me. It
also shaped what and how I teach. I’ve
found that students are often more motivated to learn hard mathematics if they
can see a direct application of their effort.
So whenever possible, I try to introduce new mathematical topics with an
application of that topic. What appeals
to me the most about this May-X course is that at Disney World, the
applications are everywhere!
My primary research field is in Combinatorial
Optimization. This is an
interdisciplinary field that combines the fields of Mathematics, Computer
Science, Engineering, and Management Science.
Problems in this area are concerned with the efficient allocation of
limited resources to meet some desired objective. For instance, a production scheduler for a
manufacturing plant might ask, given a product’s projected demand, how much
labor and raw materials are needed to meet that demand while minimizing the
cost to the company. At Disney, a
vacationer might ask how to schedule her visits to attractions in order to
minimize her time waiting in lines or, perhaps, to maximize the number of
visits to Tower of Terror! Further, a
Disney employee might ask how to allocate families to hotel rooms so as to
satisfy the demand and to not disrupt vacations with unnecessary room
switching.
I am excited to be able to introduce these types of problems
to our students during the May-X course.
The wealth of scenarios that can be modeled using mathematics at Walt
Disney World makes it a prime location to help students discover how the
abstract mathematics they see in the classroom can be applied in the real
world. I can’t wait to get started!
Favorite Attractions
For me, this includes any ride that makes you feel like your stomach has moved toward your brain. I have been known to have uncontrollable fits of laughter on Tower of Terror, so that is probably my all-around favorite at Disney. The detail and intricacies of the staging area for that ride and the unpredictability of the drop sequence makes it stand out from other free-fall attractions. Expedition Everest is a close second for its uniqueness among roller coasters. My first experience on Everest was with my youngest son Will when he was five. He spent most of the ride trying to avoid looking at a Yeti. At the end of the ride, he looked at me and said “That was fun! Do I have to ride it again?” At that point, my thrill-seeking eldest son and I discovered the single-rider line and proceeded to ride it another 20 times. Another favorite of mine is Test Track, and the last time I was at Disney, they were revamping the ride. So I am excited to ride the new version this year. Being somewhat tall, I find a lot of the “thrill” rides at the Magic Kingdom uncomfortable, but I do love Splash Mountain, and I am excited to try the new Seven Dwarves Mine Train. Finally, when I am tired and ready to wind down for the day, I really enjoy going to either the Hall of Presidents or sitting in the World Showcase at Epcot.
Favorite Restaurants
At the suggestion of a good friend, I tried Boma on my
family’s last visit to Disney. My friend
said that he sometimes drives from South Carolina to Orlando just to visit
Boma. After eating there, I can see
why. The wonderful flavors and the
setting at Animal Kingdom make this a top favorite of mine. I also like Biergarten at Epcot for the food
and the authentic German entertainment.
Actually, I’m always up for going to any restaurant in the World
Showcase at Epcot. Wherever we go for
our special meals on the trip, I’m sure it will be fantastic, but I will
probably be thinking about how to get to Tower of Terror again before closing
time!
