Jeffrey Lawson

Biography

Dr. Lawson is the Dean of Graduate School and Research and a Professor of Mathematics. He previously served as the Interim Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Success, Head of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, and Program Director for the Graduate Certificate in Data Science. He held previous positions at Trinity University and Wake Forest University, as well as visiting research positions at University of Surrey, Caltech, Fields Institute, and St. Mary's College of Maryland. He serves on the Editorial Board of the American Mathematical Monthly. Dr. Lawson was a UNC System Faculty Fellow for 2023.

Education

• Ph D, North Carolina State University at Raleigh, Mathematics
• MS, University of Colorado at Boulder, Applied Mathematics
• BS, Georgia Institute Technology-Main Campus, Physics

Teaching Interests

As dean I promote graduate students and faculty, and all graduate programs, including recruiting, advocacy, allocation of assistantships and scholarships, and facilitations of student experiences in research.<br><br>I teach pure and applied mathematics at all levels, from first-year students to graduate students. I embrace the opportunity to share with all my students the beauty of geometry and the utility of mathematical modeling. I am committed to the retention and persistence of all WCU students, both undergraduate and graduate.

Research Interests

As dean I serve as the Chief Research Officer for the University.<br><br>My own research interests include differential geometry, symplectic geometry, and geometric mechanics, with applications in classical mechanics and field theories. I also study mathematical models in physics, engineering, and biology. In addition, I research the teaching and learning of mathematics, success in first-year mathematics courses, and post-pandemic student engagement.