Dr. Bruce F. Torrence
Professor and Chair
Department of Mathematics
Bruce Torrence came to Randolph-Macon in 1993 after serving as a visiting Professor at Georgetown University for two years. He received his Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Virginia in 1991. His dissertation is in cobordism theory, a branch of algebraic topology. He also received his masters and bachelors degrees in mathematics, from the University of Maryland and Tufts University, respectively. He enjoys jazz and cycling; in the summer of 2002 he cycled the entire 469 mile length of the Blue Ridge Parkway (with four other crazy people) in four days. His research interests include algebraic topology, graph theory, and combinatorics. He is also acitively involved in using computer algebra systems in teaching mathematics.
Bruce is co-editor elect of Math Horizons, the MAA's color-glossy mathematics journal for undergraduates. His co-editor, Steve Abbott of Middlebury College, is another UVA mathematics graduate and is also an avid cyclist.
Bruce received the John M. Smith award for excellence in mathematics teaching in 2008. The award, given annually to one math faculty member in all of Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC, is given in recognition of a professor whose teaching has had influence beyond his or her own institution.
Yes, Dr. Torrence is married to the other Dr. Torrence. They
spent the Spring of 2002 at the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands,
studying mathematics education and computer algebra systems. The year 1999
marked the publishing date of their first book, The Student's Introduction
to Mathematica - A Handbook for Precalculus, Calculus, and Linear
Algebra", available from Cambridge University
Press. Or go to Amazon.com and
type "Bruce Torrence" in the Search field, then hit "Go!" This text is intended
to help undergraduates use the Mathematica software system in an educational
setting. The second edition, which includes information on the dynamic interface
elements available in version 6 of Mathematica, a new chapter on
programming, and over 200 exercises, is due in the summer of 2008.
Dr. Torrence served as co-director of the Honors Program
at Randolph-Macon from 1997-2000. He is the faculty advisor to the
Cycling Club.
Dr. Torrence received a Grant from the National Science Foundation in the Spring of 1996 for the creation of a Computer Classroom for the Mathematics Department. The classroom, located on the second floor of the Copley Science Center, was renovated in the summer of 2000 and is used for teaching courses in calculus, statistics, modeling, linear algebra, differential equations, and more. Software such as Mathematica and Data Desk are available for student use.
Since his arrival at R-MC, Dr. Torrence has taught
Math 451 - Topology,
Math 442 - Numerical Analysis,
Math 421 - Real Variables,
Math 372 - Statistics,
Math 371 - Probability,
Math 330 - Graph Theory
Math 213 - Linear Algebra,
Math 203 - Multivariable Calculus,
Honr 254 - Mathematica!,
Honr 204 - Geometry of the Universe,
Math 131 and 132 - Calculus I and II,
Math 120 - Introduction to Logic,
Math 113 - Introduction to Statistics,
Math 111 - Introduction to Statistics, and
Math 107 - Introduction to Mathematical Modeling.
FYEC 105 and 106 - The Human Genome (with Prof. Falls of the Biology dept.)
Updated April 18, 2008.