The Math and Computer Science Department Suffered a Great Loss

On August 30, 2019, Dr. Iyad Ajwa, Professor of Computer Science, passed away after a battle with cancer. Services for Dr. Ajwa were held the same afternoon at the Al Noor Mosque in Columbus, Oho. He is greatly missed in the department and at Ashland University.

Dr. Ajwa joined Ashland University as an Assistant Professor in 1997 and was devoted to our institution. He was a beloved teacher having been nominated twice for the prestigious Taylor Teaching Award. Dr. Ajwa was the recipient of a prestigious Fulbright Award for the 2013-2014 academic year during which he taught and conducted research at Umm Al-Qura University in Saudi Arabia. In 2005-06 he was granted a Senior Study Leave to teach at Abu Dhabi University. Dr. Ajwa's scholarly record includes numerous peer-reviewed articles, grants and contributed papers. He served as Chair of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science (2014-2019) and recently developed the curricula for two new majors:  cyber security and software design and development. The entire academic community joins the entire Ashland University community in mourning his loss.  Please keep Dr. Ajwa's wife, Nadia, and sons, Ismaeil and Omar, in your prayers.

We continue to remember him with great fondness.

Jonathan Meredith Participated in a Summer Cyber Security REU

Jonathan Meredith

Jonathan Meredith participated in a Cyber Security REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates) at North Dakota State University over the summer 2019.

Congratulations, Jonathan Meredith.

Dr. Christopher N. Swanson, Mathematics Received the Meritourios Service Award

Dr. Christopher N. Swanson received the Meritorious Service Award in Recognition for his outstanding service to the Ohio Section of Mathematical Association of America.

Dr. Swanson received the award at the mathematical Association of America's MathFest Conference held July 31 to Aug. 3 in Cincinnati, Ohio. To see more about this, here is the link to the citation: https://www.maa.org/sites/default/files/pdf/awards/MathFest2019/MSAward_Swanson.pdf

The Ohio Section's nomination of Dr. Swanson noted that he has been actively involved at the national and sectional level, serving as president of the Ohio Section for two years, serving as co-coordinator for Ohio NExt (a professional development program for new math faculty) for 12 years, serving on the Committee on Student Members for eight year's and presenting multiple invited national MAA panel discussions and Ohio NExT workshops.

Dr. Swanson joined Ashland University faculty in 1999. He will be serving as chair of AU's Department of Mathematics and Computer Science in the upcoming academic year. He previously served, for 12 years, as the University's Honors Program Director.

VEE Requirements Approval

Math 318 has been approved as a VEE (Validation by Education Experience) Course and is now listed in the VEE directory. Students can now complete all three of the current VEE Requirements at Ashland University.

"The VEE requirement is jointly sponsored by the Society of Actuaries (SOA), Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS) and Canadian Institute of Actuaries (CIA). There are three VEE topics: Economics, Corporate Finance and Applied Statistical Methods" (https://www.beanactuary.org/study/?fa=vee-requirements).

Joel Moseman Passed Final Actuarial Test

Joel Moseman ('15) passed Exam 6, spring 2019. This is the last actuarial test requirement needed to get his ACAS! Congratulations, Joel Moseman.

Kurtis Yoder Accepted a Summer Internship

Kurtis Yoder, Junior, has accepted a 2019 summer internship at NFI Industries in the logistics office at Colgate-Palmolive plant in Cambridge, Ohio. Kurtis Yoder will be working as a Transportation Logistics Intern.

Nathaniel Redden Accepts a Summer Internship

Nathaniel Redden, Junior, has accepted a summer internship at North Dakota State University as part of their Cyber Security and Cyber-physical Systems REU, sponsored by the National Science Foundation.