CURRICULUM VITAE
Thomas William Polaski
Professor of Mathematics
Department of Mathematics
Winthrop University
Rock Hill SC 29733
polaskit@winthrop.edu
Education:
- Ph.D. in Mathematics,
Duke University, Durham,
North Carolina, 1991.
Dissertation Title: Estimates for Differences and
Harnack's Inequality for Functions Harmonic with Respect
to Random Walks.
Advisor: Gregory F. Lawler.
- M.A. in Mathematics,
Duke University, Durham,
North Carolina, 1988.
- B.S. in Mathematics
summa cum laude,
Furman University,
Greenville, South Carolina,
1986.
Courses Taught:
Precalculus Mathematics,
Introductory College
Mathematics, Calculus I, Calculus II,
Honors Calculus II, Linear
Algebra, Calculus III, Honors
Calculus III, Calculus IV,
Honors Calculus IV, Real Analysis I, Elements of
Set Theory and Introduction to
Topology, Probability and
Statistics I, Probability and
Statistics II, Introduction to
Stochastic Processes, Measure
Theory I, Measure Theory II, Measure-Theoretic Probability.
Research Interests:
Stochastic Processes,
Mathematical Biology, Mathematical Modelling,
Use of Technology in
Mathematics Education.
Books and Supplementary
Materials Published:
- Instructor's 48-G
Manual. Supplement to
Linear Algebra and its
Applications by David C. Lay. Second Edition. Reading:
Addison-Wesley, 1999.
- Case studies and
exercise sets to accompany Linear Algebra and its
Applications by David C. Lay. Updated Second Edition.
Reading:
Addison-Wesley, 1999.
- Part III of Graphing
Calculator Manual. Supplement
to Finite Mathematics and
Calculus with Applications by
Margaret L. Lial, Raymond N.
Greenwell, and Charles D. Miller.
Reading: Addison-Wesley,
1998.
- One chapter (Matrices
and Determinants) in
College Algebra. Glasgow: WeeHowf, 1998.
Articles Published:
- Extraneous Solutions and
Graphing Calculators (with
R. Goolsby). The Mathematics
Teacher 90(1997):718-720.
- Multi-Section Scheduling
for Retention and
Remediation (with R. Goolsby). PRIMUS 7:106-114
(1997).
- A Computer Program for
the Double Variation Method (with J. Hollifield).
MircoNotes 1(1997)
no.1.
- Harnack Inequalities and
Difference Estimates for Random
Walks with Infinite Range
(with G. Lawler). Journal of
Theoretical Probability 6:781-802
(1993).
- On the Critical Exponent
for Random Walk Intersections
(with K. Burdzy and G.
Lawler). Journal of Statistical Physics
56:1-12 (1989).
Software Published:
- Software package LALG
which accompanies the Instructor's 48-G Manual, a
supplement to Linear Algebra and its Applications
by David C. Lay.
Papers Presented:
- "'The Private History of
a Reform that Failed:' College Algebra and Student
Readiness." Joint Mathematics Meetings, New Orleans,
Louisiana. January 10-13, 2001.
- "Branching Processes in
Varying Environment and a Carcinogenesis Model." Joint
Mathematics Meetings, Washington, District of Columbia.
January 19-22, 2000.
- "A Step Beyond: Using
Case Studies in Linear Algebra." Twelfth
Annual International
Conference on Technology in
Collegiate Mathematics, San
Francisco, California, November 4-7, 1999.
- "Conics and the TI-92.''
Eleventh Annual International Conference on
Technology in Collegiate
Mathematics, New Orleans, Louisiana, November
19-22, 1998.
- "How Foggy is it?
Writing Assignments and Assessment in Linear
Algebra.'' Seventh
Conference of the International Linear Algebra Society,
Madison, Wisconsin, June
3-6, 1998.
- "Visualizing Linear
Transformations on the HP-48G.''
Joint Mathematics Meetings,
Orlando, Florida. January 12, 1996.
- "A Segment Approach to
College Mathematics Classes.''
Joint Mathematics Meetings,
Orlando, Florida. January 12, 1996.
- "Technology-Based
Writing in Linear Algebra.'' Eighth
Annual International
Conference on Technology in
Collegiate Mathematics,
Houston, Texas, November 18, 1995.
- "Laboratory Exercises
with Difference Equations.'' Joint
Mathematics Meetings,
Cincinnati, Ohio, January 13, 1994.
Workshops Presented:
- "Teaching Linear Algebra
Using the HP-48G.'' Ninth Annual
International Conference on
Technology in Collegiate
Mathematics, Reno, Nevada,
November 9, 1996.
Other Conference
Participation:
- ATLAST (Augmenting the
Teaching of Linear Algebra
through the use of Software
Tools) Workshop Developer's
Conference, University of
Washington, Seattle, Washington,
August 13-16, 1996.
Attendance by invitation. Developed
materials to aid colleagues
who desire to incorporate technology
into their linear algebra
courses.
- AMS-SIAM Summer Seminar
on the Mathematics of Random
Media, Virginia Polytechnic
Institute and State University,
Blacksburg, Virginia, May 29
- June 9, 1989.
Reviews Published in
Mathematical Reviews:
- Bernabei, M. S.,
Boldrighini, C., Minlos, R. A., and Pellegrinotti, A.
Almost-sure central
limit theorem for a model of random walk in fluctuating
random environment. Markov Process. Related Fields,
4(1998), no.3, 381-393.
- Bernabei, M. S. and
Boldrighini, C. Random walks in
fluctuating random media.
Markov Processes Relat.
Fields, 2(1996),
no.3, 401-426.
- Boivin, Daniel. Weak
convergence for reversible random
walks in a random
environment. Ann. Probab., 21(1993), no.3,
1427-1440.
- Boldrighini, C.,
Ignatyuk, I. A., Malyshev, V. A., and
Pellegrinotti, A. Random
walk in dynamic environment with
mutual influence.
Stochastic Process. Appl., 41(1992) no.1,
157-177. (accepted authors' abstract)
- Boldrighini, C., Minlos,
R. A., and Pellegrinotti, A.
Asymptotic decay of
correlations for a fluctuating environment
in interaction with a
two-particle random walk. Boll. Un.
Mat. Ital. B (7),
10(1996), no.2, 277-302.
- Bolthausen, Erwin and
Schmock, Uwe. On self-attracting d-dimensional
random walks. Ann Probab., 25(1997),
no.2,
531-572. (accepted authors' abstract)
- Brydges, D. C. and
Slade, G. The diffusive phase of
a model of self-interacting
walks. Probab. Theory Related
Fields, 105(1995),
no.3, 285-315.
- Buffet, E. and Hannigan,
P. Directed random walks in
random environments. J.
Statist. Phys., 65(1991), no.3-4,
645-672.
- Cancrini, N. and Galves,
R. Approach to equilibrium
in the symmetric simple
exclusion process. Markov Process.
Related Fields, 1(1995),
no.2, 175-184.
- Davis, Burgess.
Reinforced and perturbed random walks. Random Walks
(Budapest, 1998),
113-126, Bolyai Soc. Math. Stud., 9, Janos Bolyai Math.
Soc., Budapest, 1999.
- Depauw, Jerome. Flux
moyen d'un courant electrique dans un reseau
aleatoire stationnaire de
resistances. Ann. Inst. H. Poincare Probab. Statist.,
35(1999),
no. 3, 355-370.
- Doney, R. A. Spitzer's
condition and ladder
variables in random walks. Probab. Theory Related
Fields} 101(1995),
no.4, 577-580.
- Greven, Andreas, and den
Hollander, Frank. Large
deviations for a random walk
in random environment. Ann.
Probab., 22(1994),
no.3, 1381-1428. (accepted
authors' abstract)
- Grimmett, Geoffrey.
Random graphical networks.
Networks and Chaos --
Statistical and Probabilistic Aspects,
288-301, Monographs on
Statistics and Applied Probability,
50. London: Chapman and
Hall, 1993.
- Howard, C. Douglas.
Orthogonality of measures induced by
random walks with scenery.
Combin. Probab. Comput., 5(1996), no.3,
247-256.
- Khanin, K. M., Mazel, A.
E., Schlosman, S. B., and Sinai, Ya. G. Loop condensation
effects in the behavior
of random walks. The
Dynkin Festschrift, 167-184, Progress in
Probability Series, 34. Boston: Birkauser, 1994.
- Landim, C. and Vares, M.
E. Equilibrium fluctuations
for exclusion processes with
speed change. Stochastic
Process. Appl., 52(1994),
no.1, 107-118.
- Lawler, Gregory F.
Intersection probabilities for
random walks. Mathematics
of Random Media (Blacksburg, VA,
1989), 73-85, Lectures in
Appl. Math., 27, Amer. Math. Soc.,
Providence, RI, 1991.
- Lawler, Gregory F. Cut
times for simple random walk.
Electron. J. Probab.,
1(1996), no.13, approx. 24
pp. (electronic).
- Lawler, Gregory F.
Loop-erased walks intersect infinitely often
in four dimensions.
Electron. Comm. Probab., 3(1998), 35-42
(electronic).
- Lawler, Gregory F. A
lower bound on the growth exponent for
loop-erased random walk in
two dimensions. ESIAM Probab. Statist.,
3(1999),
1-21 (electronic).
- Lawler, Gregory F. and
Puckette, Emily E. The disconnection exponent for simple
random walk. Israel J. Math., 99(1997),
109-121.
- Lawler, Gregory F. and
Werner, Wendelin. Intersection exponents for
planar Brownian motion.
Ann. Probab., 27(1999), no.4,
1601-1642.
- Marchal, Philippe.
Loop-erased random walks, spanning trees, and Hamiltonian
cycles. Electron. Comm.
Probab., 5(2000), 39-50 (electronic).
- Madras, Neal and
Schinazi, Rinaldo. Branching
random walks on trees.
Stochastic Proc. Appl., 42(1992), no.2,
255-267.
- Mountford, T. S. The
critical value for some
nonattractive long range
nearest particle systems. Probab.
Theory Related Fields,
93(1992), no.1, 67-76.
- Port, Sidney C.
Theoretical Probability for
Applications. New
York: John Wiley and Sons, 1994.
- Shimura, Michio. Exit
probability of two-dimensional random walk from the
quadrant. Proc.
Japan Acad. Ser. A Math. Sci., 75(1999), no.
3, 39-42.
- Stadje,
W. A note on the maximum of a random walk.
Statist. Probab. Lett.,
23(1995), no.3, 227-231.
- Toth, Balint and Werner,
Wendelin. The true self-repelling
motion. Probab. Theory
Related Fields, 111(1998), no.3,
375-452.
Grants and Honors:
- Outstanding Junior
Professor Award, Winthrop University, 1997.
- Nominee for Outstanding
Junior Professor Award, Winthrop
University, 1996.
- Nominee for Phi Kappa
Phi Excellence in Teaching Award,
Winthrop Univeristy, 1995
and 1996.
- Visiting Lecturer for
the Mathematical Association of
America, 1995 - 1999.
- Research Council Grant,
"On the Incorporation of Technology into
Linear Algebra
Instruction,'' Winthrop University, 1992.
- L.P. and Barbara J.
Smith award for excellence in teaching,
Mathematics Department, Duke
University, 1989.
- Phi Beta Kappa, 1985 -
Present.
Professional
Organizations:
- American Mathematical
Society, 1986 - Present.
- Mathematical Association
of America, 1988- Present.
- Institute of
Mathematical Statistics, 1991 - Present.
- American Association of
University Professors, 1991 - Present.
- Association for Women in
Mathematics, 1994 - Present.
- International Linear
Algebra Society, 1996 - Present.
Consulting:
- Southeastern Liquid
Analyzers, Inc., York, South Carolina,
1992-1993. Interpreted EPA
protocols for use in determining
underground oil tank leak
rates.
- South Carolina Law
Enforcement Division, Columbia, South
Carolina, 1992 -1993.
Developed computer code to calculate
refractive index of glass
samples.
Professional and
University Service:
- Reviewer,
Mathematical Reviews, 1992 - Present.
Examined 34 books or
articles for possible inclusion
in this publication; wrote
reviews of 30 of these (see above).
- Faculty Consultant,
Advanced Placement Calculus Reading,
1994 - 2000. Assisted in
grading the Advanced Placement Calculus Examinations.
- Faculty Representative
to Attend Student Senate Meetings,
Winthrop University, 1991 -
1992. Attended student
government meetings.
- Faculty Concerns
Committee, Winthrop University, 1993 -
1996. Collected concerns of
the faculty and discussed them
with the President.
- General Education
Committee, Winthrop University, 1994 -
1996. Debated proposed
changes in the general education
curriculum, and helped to
develop a matrix by which general
education courses could be
assessed.
- Library Committee,
Winthrop University, 1995 - 1998.
Discussed various aspects of
the Winthrop University Library.
Chair of the Committee 1996
- 1997.
- Math/Science Annex
Dedication Committee, Winthrop
University, 1996. Planned
and executed the
groundbreaking exercise for the Math/Science annex.
- Academic Strategic Plan
Committee, Winthrop University,
1996 - 1998. Discussed and
formulated the academic portions of
the University's strategic
plan.
- Parliamentarian,
Graduate Faculty Assembly, Winthrop
University, 1996 - 1997.
- Honors Committee,
Winthrop University, 1997 - 1999. Discussed and
developed possible changes
to the University Honors Program.
- Academic Council,
Winthrop University, 1997 - 2000: Discussed and
approved changes to
University policies and curriculum.
- Institutional Self-Study
Steering Committee, Winthrop University, 1998 - Present:
discussed and implemented
the initial phases of the self-study necessary for
re-accreditation by the
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
- Undergraduate Program
Self-Study Committee, Winthrop University, 1998 - Present:
developed initial responses
as to compliance with selected portions of the criteria
for accreditation;
prepared a list of needed resources.
- Professor Awards
Committee, Winthrop University, 1998 - 2000: Aided in the
selection of the
Distinguished Professor and Outstanding Junior Professor.
- Committee on Budget
Priorities, Winthrop University, 1998 - 2000: Collected
and analyzed
University budget data; developed list of suggestions for
spending of unallocated revenue.
- Committee on
Undergraduate Instruction, Winthrop University, 1998 -
2000: discussed and
approved University-wide curricular changes.
Chair of the Committee:
1998-2000.
- Curriculum Committee,
College of Arts and Sciences, 1992 -
1994. Debated proposed
changes in the Arts and Sciences
curriculum and judged
student petitions.
Secretary to the Committee, 1993 - 1994.
- Secretary, College of
Arts and Sciences Faculty Assembly,
1995 - 1996. Responsible for
producing minutes of each
Assembly meeting.
- Curriculum Committee,
Department of Mathematics, 1992 -
Present. Helped to
restructure the mathematics curriculum;
rewrote all course
descriptions in Mathematics.
- Statistics Committee,
Department of Mathematics, 1993 -
1998. Wrote the proposal for
a Concentration in Statistics
which was approved by the
South Carolina Commission on Higher Education.
- Winthrop-Wylie
Tournament Committee, Department
of Mathematics, 1991 - 1993.
Prepared and collated test questions.
- Mathematics 101
Committee, Department of Mathematics, 1993
- 1998. Helped to develop
and implement the department's
component approach to this
course.
- Secretary, American
Association of University Professors,
Winthrop University Chapter,
1992 - Present.
Student Service:
- Faculty Advisor,
Winthrop Math Club, 1991 - 1999.
- Judge, Winthrop
University Model United Nations, 1993,
1994, 1995.
Undergraduate Talks
Given:
- "Population Models and
Chaos,'' Mathematics
and Computer Science Colloquium, Georgia College and State
University,
Milledgeville, Georgia, May, 1998.
- "Questions on Simple
Random Walk,'' Math Coffee, Davidson
College, Davidson, North
Carolina, March, 1998.
- "The Mathematics of
Postal Codes,'' Kappa Mu Epsilon
induction ceremony, Winthrop
University, March, 1996.
- "Polyhedra: Plato,
Euler, and Descartes,'' Senior Seminar
in Mathematics, Belmont
Abbey College, Belmont, North Carolina,
October, 1994.
- "Difference Equations
and Linear Algebra,'' Senior Seminar in
Mathematics, Belmont Abbey
College, Belmont, North Carolina,
October, 1993.
- "Basins of Attraction
and Chaos,'' Senior Seminar in
Mathematics, Belmont Abbey
College, Belmont, North Carolina,
October, 1992.
- "The Unusual Number
Phi,'' Kappa Mu Epsilon induction
ceremony, Winthrop
University, March 1992.
- "Fluctuations in
Coin-Tossing and Random Walk,'' Senior
Seminar in Mathematics,
Belmont Abbey College, Belmont, North
Carolina, October 1991.
Community Service:
- Member, Board of
Directors, Baptist House of Studies at
Duke University, 1997-2001.
Secretary to the Board,
1999-2001.
- Member, Board of
Directors, Ten Thousand Villages
Charlotte, 1997-2002.
Secretary to the Board,
1997-2002.
- Local Arrangements
Co-Chair, Southeastern Section Meeting of the Mathematical
Association of America,
Charlotte, North Carolina, 2000.
- Local Arrangements
Coordinator, Alliance of Baptists
National Convocation,
Charlotte, North Carolina, 1996.
- Moderator, Wedgewood
Baptist Church, Charlotte, North Carolina, 1999-2002.
- Co-Chair, Board of
Deacons, Wedgewood Baptist Church, Charlotte, North
Carolina, 1999-2001.