Faculty and Staff

Thomas Shimkus, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Department Chair
Mathematics
Loyola Science Center 211D | 570-941-4493
B.S., The University of Scranton
M.S., Ph.D., Lehigh University
Faculty

Maureen Carroll, Ph.D.
Professor
Mathematics
Loyola Science Center 314A | 570-941-6346
B.A., LaSalle University
M.S., Ph.D., Lehigh University
Steven Dougherty, Ph.D.
Professor
Mathematics
Loyola Science Center 314B | 570-941-6104
B.S., The University of Scranton
M.S., Ph.D., Lehigh University
Dr. Steven Dougherty is interested in coding theory, especially self-dual codes and codes over rings. He is also interested in the relationship of coding theory with finite geometry and design theory (finite affine, projective planes, finite nets) and also works on the relationship of codes and lattices, self-dual codes and unimodular lattices in particular. He is interested in Latin Squares and other topics in combinatorics. Outside the field of research Dr. Dougherty is interested in algebra, set theory, and the history of mathematics.

Jason Graham, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Mathematics
Loyola Scienc Center 319A | 570-941-7491
B.S., University of Houston
M.S., Southern Methodist University
M.S., University of Iowa
Ph.D., University of Iowa
Dr. Jason Graham works, generally, in the field of applied mathematics, and more specifically, in mathematical biology. Most of his research revolves around developing mathematical models of biological phenomena of interest in current biomedical research. He is currently working on mathematical representations of bone remodeling and injury response in articular cartilage.

Jakub Jasinski, Ph.D.
Professor
Mathematics
Loyola Science Center 311A | 570-941-6102
M.S., Ph.D., University of Gdansk
University of Essex
Dr. Jakub Jasinski is interested in Foundations of Mathematics. He specializes in applications of set theory in analysis, topology, and measure theory. More specifically he works with Blackwell Spaces, special sets of real numbers, restrictions to continuous functions, and fixed-point theorems on metric spaces. Dr. Jasinski presents his results at the departmental seminar, regional, national, and international conferences. He also developed and taught courses in mathematical logic and axiomatic set theory.

Joseph Klobusicky, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Mathematics
joseph.klobusicky@scranton.edu
Loyola Science Center 211E | 570-941-6486
B.S., M.S., Carnegie Mellon University
M.Sc., Ph.D., Brown University
Dr. Joseph Klobusicky works in applied analysis and probability. Recent interests include mathematical biology and material science. Other projects have dealt with questions in the fields of microfluidics, medical informatics, and neural networks. A major theme of his research involves stochastic modeling of high dimensional systems and studying the deterministic and random limits that arise from them.

John Levko, S.J., SEOD, Ph.D.
Professor
Mathematics
Loyola Science Center 475 | 570-941-7606
B.A., M.S., Ph.D., Lehigh University
S.T.B., Gregorian University
M.A., John XXIII Institute, Maryknoll
S.E.O.L., S.E.O.D., Pontifical Oriental Institute
Dr. John Levko specializes in differential geometry. Dr. Levko is a Jesuit who holds a second doctorate in spirituality from the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome.
Kenneth Monks, Ph.D.
Professor
Mathematics
Loyola Science Center 311C | 570-941-6101
B.S., The Pennsylvania State University
M.S., Ph.D., Lehigh University
Dr. Kenneth Monks obtained his PhD in algebraic topology, specializing in the Steenrod algebra and its applications. His current research interests include work on the 3x+1 problem, discrete dynamics, and category theory. He has developed and taught many advanced courses including Problem Solving, Chaos and Fractals, Surreal Numbers and Games, and Category Theory. His teaching style emphasizes the use of formal logic as a mechanism for learning proofs and using technology in the classroom. He is a co-developer of several educational software packages, include AiM, an online assessment program, and Lurch, a program for verifying formal proofs. Dr. Monks has worked with several students in the faculty student research program, on various aspects of the 3x+1 problem and chaos theory.

Jerry Muir, Ph.D.
Professor
Mathematics
Loyola Science Center 293 | 570-941-6103
B.A., M.A., State University of New York at Potsdam
Ph.D., University of Kentucky
Dr. Jerry Muir studies if, when, or how classical results from the theory of univalent functions of one complex variable can be generalized to spaces of finite or infinite complex dimension, where the roads have more potholes than in NEPA. Recently, he has considered classes of operators that extend one-variable mappings to higher dimensions in a manner preserving particular geometric characteristics of the mappings’ ranges.

Stacey Muir, Ph.D.
Professor
Mathematics
Loyola Science Center 271 | 570-941-6580
B.S., Rockhurst College
M.A., Ph.D., University of Kentucky
Dr. Stacey Muir is interested in geometric function theory of one complex variable. Currently, she is studying geometric properties of complex-valued harmonic mappings and connections with minimal surfaces and convolutions of harmonic mappings.

Masood Otarod, Ph.D.
Professor
Mathematics
Loyola Science Center 320B | 570-941-7773
B.S., Pahlavi University
M.S., Sc.D., Columbia University
Dr. Masood Otarod specializes in various aspects of applied mathematics. In particular he works on mathematical models of chemical reaction systems. His recent publication was written jointly with a student. Dr. Otarod teaches advanced courses in probability, statistics and differential equations.

Krzysztof Plotka, Ph.D.
Professor
Mathematics
Loyola Science Center 311B | 570-941-6208
M.S., University of Gdansk
Ph.D., West Virginia University
Dr. Chris Plotka is interested in Set Theory and its applications to Real Analysis and Topology and Combinatorics and Graph Theory

Jennifer F. Vasquez, Ph.D.
Professor
Mathematics
Loyola Science Center 314C | 570-941-6113
B.S., Indiana University of Pennsylvania
M.A., Ph.D., Indiana University
Dr. Jennifer Vasquez is a topologist specializing in knot theory and its applications to quantum computing. She is also interested in applications of topology to biology.

Zhongcheng (Bonnie) Xiong, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Mathematics
Loyola Science Center 320A | 570-941-6157
B.S., Wuhan University
M.S., Ph.D., Lehigh University
Dr. Bonnie Xiong specializes in differential geometry and topology. In particular she works on almost Hermitian structures. She is interested in developing computer based projects for calculus and differential equations.

Murong Xu, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Mathematics
Loyola Science Center 319B | 570-941-7182
B.S., M.S., Jinan University
Ph.D., West Virginia University
Dr. Murong Xu specializes in graph theory and its applications, especially in graph coloring problems and connectivity problems. She is also highly interested in Applied Statistics and Data Mining.
Staff

Cynthia Tokash
Secretary
Mathematics
Loyola Science Center 235 | 570-941-4233