My research is in low-dimensional classical algebraic geometry, intersection theory, and enumerative geometry, dealing with algebraic curves and surfaces. A general projection of a smooth surface in high-dimensional projective space to projective three-space is expected to contain a finite number of pinch points, points whose tangent planes meet the source of projection. My most recent result seeks to bound this number from below in terms of the dimension of the source projective space.

Hazel Bucy Endowed Fund Scholarship, Sep. 2022 – May 2023
Oklahoma State University || Stillwater, OK

• An annual award to support graduate students who show success in the classroom

Schiller J. Scroggs Distinguished Graduate Fellowship, Sep. 2022 – May 2023
Oklahoma State University || Stillwater, OK

• An annual award to one graduate student who shows outstanding academic leadership ability

Jeanne Agnew Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award, Sep. 2021 – May 2022
Oklahoma State University || Stillwater, OK

• An annual award to one graduate student in recognition of superior teaching

Jeanne Agnew Endowed Fellowship, Sep. 2019 – May 2020
Oklahoma State University || Stillwater, OK

• An annual award to recognize and reward students for their outstanding academic records

John & Caryl Jobe Mathematics Graduate Student Fellowship, Sep. 2018 – May 2019
Oklahoma State University || Stillwater, OK

• A one-time award given to select prospective graduate students as a competitive recruitment incentive

Project NExT Fellow, 2024 Cohort
MAA Professional Development Program Aug. 2024 — Aug. 2025

Project NExT is a program funded through the Mathematical Association of America geared toward recent doctoral graduates in mathematics who are pursuing a career in higher education. The program is designed to help us flourish as instructors for the next wave of bright undergraduate and graduate students in math! My involvement consists of regular conference attendance, participation in workshops and teaching support groups.

Uncrumpled: A Scheme for Bounding the Pinch Points on a Variety of Projected Surfaces
Doctoral Dissertation, Aug. 2021 – May 2023

This project showcased a new classification result for algebraic surfaces embedded in high-dimensional projective space. The result bounds a well-known formula for a numerical invariant associated to a projective surface and then classifies all surfaces that meet the lower bound. The work also included chapters devoted to developing the necessary background knowledge, working out several examples, and generalizing the main result to classify surfaces which exhibit near-extremal behavior in terms of the lower bound.

Pinch Point Computations on Families of Projective Surfaces
Doctoral Qualifying Exam, Mar. 2021 – Aug. 2021

• Written research paper in the style of an academic journal using LATEX

• Full length mathematics presentation including a Q&A session

• Content was directly related to my dissertation: Results were a generalization of my Preliminary Research Project

Pinch Points: A Preliminary Look at a Variety of Projections
Preliminary Research Project, Sep. 2020 – Feb. 2021

• Written research paper in the style of an academic journal using LATEX

• Full length mathematics presentation including a Q&A session

• Content was directly related to my dissertation

• Along with some others, I plan to continue to develop this document into a resource that will help newer students in the field to learn basic definitions and techniques

A Variety of Varieties, Aug. 2020 – May 2021

• Collaborative recording of instructional videos targeted towards future graduate students in Algebraic Geometry.

• Co-creator of content, primary editor, schedule maintenance, primary point of contact

Three Minute Thesis, Sep. 2020 – Oct. 2020

• Annual communication challenge issued by the university for graduate students to explain their research in under three minutes to a non-specialist audience

• Video submissions are judged by a committee, with prizes ranging from $100 - $1,000

• First competitor from the field of Mathematics in three years

The Dispersion Process on Graphs
Master’s Thesis, Sep. 2017 – May 2018

• Original research in the fields of Graph Theory, Probability and Combinatorics

• Research paper in the style of an academic journal, written using LATEX

• Full length mathematics talk with Q&A session

Approximating Volume Using Ultrasound Images
Undergraduate Research Project, Mar. 2016 – Oct. 2016

• Leveraged techniques in image processing and machine learning to approximate the volume and surface area of three-dimensional images

• Application: performed calculations on layered X-ray images of a human placenta

• Created a poster display along with a brief talk at the annual MAA conference

Organizer of the Problem Solving Seminar, Present
Belmont University || Nashville, TN

This is a bi-weekly event hosted by the mathematics department where undergraduate students come to eat pizza and solve puzzles in mathematics, computer science, and data science.

Member of the Academic Integrity Panel, Sept. 2022 – May 2023
Oklahoma State University || Stillwater, OK

This was a service opportunity I participated in during my final year as a graduate student at OSU. My responsibilities included participating in hearings for academic integrity cases and helping to establish guilt/assign sanctions.

Vice President of the Mathematics Graduate Student Society, Sept. 2021 – May 2022
Oklahoma State University || Stillwater, OK

Responsibilities included organizing regular academic seminars, planning several events, and coordinating efforts with other student leaders and faculty.

Organizer of the OSU Math Graduate Conference, Mar. 2022
Oklahoma State University || Stillwater, OK

I served as a co-organizer for a mathematics conference with the AMS. My responsibilities included scheduling over 19 talks (including a keynote and international speakers), coordinating catering through local small businesses, and giving my own talk on the blowup of a variety along a subvariety.

Graduate Student Mentorship Program, Aug. 2022 – May 2023
OSU Mathematics Department || Stillwater, OK

• Mentored incoming graduate students, offering advice and counsel for navigating gradate school

Lights On Stillwater, Aug. 2022 – July 2023
New Covenant Fellowship || Stillwater, OK

• Community outreach event for small businesses and organizations to connect with incoming college students

• Volunteered to set up and run a booth for a local church

Sound Booth Operations, Mar. 2020 – July 2023
New Covenant Fellowship || Stillwater, OK

• Volunteered to mix sound and help with the multimedia for a local church’s weekly gatherings

• Organized and trained newer members of the team

Study Cafe/After Hours, Dec. 2018 – May 2023
Stillwater Bible Church || Stillwater, OK

• Weekly community outreach event: students come to use the church’s facilities to study

• Church classrooms were open to be used for study sessions, games and study breaks, snacks and coffee

• After Hours happened every semester during finals week: A larger version of Study Cafe

• Included home-cooked meals each night of finals week, designated study rooms, games and study breaks, more snacks/coffee

• I made a point to invite my students each semester, and to offer math help to anyone else who needs it

Murder Mystery Event, Sep. 2019 – Feb. 2020
Oklahoma State University || Stillwater, OK

• Collaboratively developed an in-depth game for the graduate student community

• Hosted two events with food and supplies funded by the Mathematics Graduate Student Society

• Made use of the top two floors of the mathematics building.

• Garnered support and involvement from the campus Police Department (for dramatic effect)

College Ministry Leadership, Feb. 2014 – Aug. 2018
Valley View Chapel || Long Valley, NJ

• Co-founded and co-led of a college ministry

• Organized two meetings per week in different locations, including planning food and activities

• Service projects within the church including setup and tear-down after the weekly meetings, crossover events with the high-school youth group, attending youth conferences, etc.

• Community outreach/service projects including shoveling snow, raking leaves, cooking meals, driving services, etc.

Martial Arts Community Development, Sep. 2010 – Aug. 2015
Sun-Ki-Do/Dragon’s Den Martial Arts || Hackettstown, NJ & Budd Lake, NJ

• Coaching students and participating in local and state tournaments

• Demonstration team visiting various community events displaying choreographed routines

• Regular self-defense seminars, some offered at the local high schools and some offered at the martial arts school

Technical Skills

• Languages:

  • Python

  • MATLAB

  • LATEX

• Developer Tools: MATLAB, TeXStudio, Overleaf, PyCharm, Excel, GeoGebra, TM1, Houdini

Personal Skills

• Second-Degree Black Belt (Tae Kwon Do): Self-discipline, motivation, respect

• Marching Band (4 years): Long-term commitment, teamwork

• Small Business Personnel Manager: Leadership, organization, communication

• Math Grad Student Society Member: Community, empathy, intelligence

• MGSS Vice President: Responsibility, inclusivity, mentorship

Uncrumpled: A Scheme for Bounding the Pinch Points of a Variety of Projected Surfaces (In Press)

Bounding Pinch Point Schemes of Projected Varieties (Sep. 2022) [ArXiv Reference: 2207.07963]

I have always thrived in environments where teaching and learning are my primary responsibilities. I am pursuing a career in academia in which I can continue to grow as an instructor and develop as a mathematician, honing my passions and spurring others on to success — Currently as an Assistant Profess at Belmont University.

Research Interests

Algebraic Geometry • Enumerative Geometry • Intersection Theory • Combinatorics • Representation Theory