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Mathematics Professor
William Johnston, Ph.D. |
R-MC Mathematics Professor William Johnston, Ph.D., is the co-author of a newly-published book,
A Transition to Advanced Mathematics: A Survey Course (Oxford University Press, 2009). The book promotes the goals of a “bridge” course in mathematics as it helps to lead students from courses in the calculus sequence to theoretical upper-level mathematics courses.
“I join the Randolph-Macon College community in congratulating Dr. Johnston on the publication of this important book,” said R-MC President Robert R. Lindgren. “His dedication to scholarly work is commendable and I am delighted that this book will benefit mathematics students worldwide.”
Johnston has published several mathematics papers and books on the theory of functions and mathematical pedagogy, including
An Introduction to Statistical Inference, Reducing Litigation: The Mathematics of Settling Out of Court, Revising the Calculus Curriculum, and research results in the area of operator theory.
A Transition to Advanced Mathematics was co-authored by Alex M. McAllister, an associate professor of mathematics at Centre College.
Johnston explains the book: “It has two main objectives—to introduce sophomore-level students to proofs and to show them a broad set of mathematical fields. The book provides a survey course in advanced, theoretical mathematics, and empowers students to prove theorems, much the same way art courses empower students to draw or to paint.”
A native North Carolinian, Johnston served as the provost of Randolph-Macon College from July 2007 until August 2009 and is currently a Professor of Mathematics and Special Assistant to the President. He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Wake Forest and holds a Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Virginia. Johnston taught at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, beginning in 1988, and became their associate dean in 2001. Early in his tenure at Centre College, Johnston was a special program instructor at the University of the Virgin Islands in St. Thomas and an instructor with the Governor’s Scholars program. While at Centre College, Johnston was the H.W. Stodghill Jr. and Adele H. Stodghill Professor of Mathematics.