Faculty/Staff Directory

Deirdre Longacher Smeltzer

POSITION: Affiliate Research Professor

DEPARTMENT: Emeriti

LOCATION: Main Campus, Harrisonburg | CC 202A

PHONE: (540) 432-4141

Deirdre Longacher Smeltzer, Vice President and Undergraduate Academic Dean, began working at EMU in 1998. Prior to 1998, she spent four years as an assistant professor in the Mathematics Department at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN. Deirdre is an alumna of EMU, where she majored in mathematics, with a Bible minor. She earned an M.S. and a Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Virginia; Deirdre’s graduate research was in the area of algebraic coding theory. Recent scholarly pursuits have included exploring other branches of combinatorics, co-authoring the book Methods for Euclidean Geometry, and (currently) writing of a second textbook on discrete mathematics. In 2012-13, Deirdre served as the Interim Director of Cross-cultural Programs at EMU. In July of 2013, she moved into the role of Vice President and Undergraduate Academic Dean. In the fall semester of 2013, Deirdre co-led a cross-cultural program to China. Deirdre is married to Sherwyn Smeltzer, has two daughters and a son-in-law, and enjoys reading, cooking, exercise, and travel.

Education

BA, ��ݮ��
MS, University of Virginia (Mathematics)
PHD, University of Virginia (Mathematics)

Publications
Byer, O., & Smeltzer, D. (2015). Mutually Tangent Spheres in n-Space. Mathematics Magazine, _88_(2), 146-150.
Smeltzer, D., & Byer, O. (2014). A 3-D Analog of Steiner’s Porism. Mathematics Magazine, _87_(2), 95-99.
Byer, O., Lazebnik, F., & Smeltzer, D. (2010). Methods for Euclidean Geometry. Washington, DC: Mathematical Association of America.
Smeltzer, D., & Byer, O. (2007). Exploring Loci in Geometry. Proceedings of the Sixteenth Conference of the ACMS, 114-140.
Byer, O., & Smeltzer, D. (2007). Edge bounds in non-hamiltonian k-connected graphs. Discrete Mathematics, 307, 1572-1579.
Smeltzer, D., & Byer, O. (2007). A Guide to Mathematics Competency, internally published for use in EMU Foundations of Math course.
Davis, J., & Smeltzer, D. (2003). Exponential Numbers of Inequivalent Difference Sets in Z^2{2s+1}. Journal of Combinatorial Designs, 11, 249-259.
Smeltzer, D. (1999). Properties of Codes from Difference Sets in 2-Groups. Designs, Codes, and Cryptography, 16, 291-306.
Scholarly Presentations and Abstracts
(Selected Presentations)
- Smeltzer, D. (2014, August). A Proof of Ptolemy’s Theorem. Presentation at the Mathematical Association of America Math Fest, Portland, OR.
- Smeltzer, D., & Good, J. (2012, November). Building a Successful Required Cross-cultural Program. Presentation at the NAFSA Region VIII Conference, Alexandria, VA.
- Smeltzer, D., & Byer, O. (2012, January). Using Methods for Euclidean Geometry in the Classroom. Presentation at the MAA-AMS joint national meeting, Boston, MA.
- Smeltzer, D. (2011, October). Codes, Ciphers, and Hat Games. Professional development workshop for the Rockingham County Public Schools, Harrisonburg, VA.
- Smeltzer, D. (2011, October). Spherical Inversions and their Applications to Geometry. Invited colloquium talk, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.
* Byer, O. & Smeltzer, D. (2011, January). Applications of Circular and Spherical Inversions. Presentation at the MAA-AMS joint national meeting, New Orleans, LA.
- Byer, O., & Smeltzer. D. (2010, November). Applications of Circular and Spherical Inversions. Presentation at the MD-DC-VA sectional meeting of the MAA, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA.
- Smeltzer, D. (2010, October). Red Hat, Blue Hat: An Introduction to Coding Theory. Invited colloquium talk, Longwood University, Farmville, VA.
- Smeltzer, D. (2010, February). Red Hat, Blue Hat: An Introduction to Coding Theory. Invited colloquium talk, Mount St. Mary’s University, Emmitsburg, Maryland.
- Byer, O., & Smeltzer, D. (2008, January). Exploring Loci in Geometry. Presentation at the MAA-AMS joint national meeting, San Diego, CA.
- Byer, O., & Smeltzer, D. (2007, June). Exploring Loci in Geometry. Presentation at the biannual meeting of the Association of Christians in the Mathematical Sciences, Messiah College, Mechanicsburg, PA.
- Byer, O., & Smeltzer, D. (2007, April). Exploring Loci in Geometry. Presentation at the MD-DC-VA sectional meeting of the MAA, Roanoke College, Roanoke, VA.
- Loewen, J., & Smeltzer, D. (2006, June). Counting the Years. Talk at the North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan province, China.
- Smeltzer, D. (2005, April). Red Hat, Blue Hat: An Introduction to Coding Theory. Invited colloquium presentation, Randolph-Macon University, Ashland, VA.
- Smeltzer, D. (2002, January). Historical Data in the Mathematics Classroom. Presentation at the MAA-AMS joint national meeting, San Diego, CA.
- Smeltzer, D. (2001, November). The Hat Problem. Invited colloquium presentation, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.
- Smeltzer, D. (1999, October). Codes from Difference Sets in 2-Groups. Invited colloquium presentation, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA.
- Smeltzer, D. (1998, April). Error-Correcting Codes and Their Applications. Invited colloquium presentation, Augsburg College, Minneapolis, MN.
- Smeltzer, D. (1996, January). Properties of Codes from Difference Sets in 2-Groups. Presentation at the MAA-AMS joint national meeting, Orlando, FL.
- Smeltzer, D. (1995, June). An Introduction to Error-Correcting Codes. Invited presentation for the Carleton/St. Olaf Summer Program, Carleton College, Northfield, MN.
- Smeltzer, D. (1995, March). Codes from Difference Sets in 2-Groups. Invited presentation at the University of Minnesota Combinatorics Seminar, St. Paul, MN.
Church, Community and Professional Service
(Selected Activities)
- Member, Harrisonburg City Council Environmental Performance Standards Advisory Committee, January 2017 – present.
- Quality Enhancement Plan lead evaluator for the on-site review of a SACS institution, April 2016.
- Parent-Teacher Fellowship Secretary, Eastern Mennonite School, July 2011-July 2013.
- Co-facilitator of professional development session for Harrisonburg City middle school math teachers, with Dr. Edwin O’Shea and Dr. Elizabeth Arnold, October 13, 2011.
- Friendly City Food Cooperative Board Minutes-taker, December 2009 – September 2011.
- College for a Day presentation, “Red Hat, Blue Hat: What Color is Your Hat?” given jointly with Laura Hershey to J. Frank Hillyard Middle School students, June 3, 2011.
- Workshop presentation, Expanding Your Horizons conference for girls in grades 6-10, James Madison University, April 25, 2009.
- Active member, worship leader, leader of adult Sunday School class, and facilitator of the college-age Sunday School class at Park View Mennonite Church, 2006 – present.
Professional Memberships
- Association of Christians in the Mathematical Sciences
- Mathematical Association of America
Professional Conferences Attended
(January 2014-present only)
- Center for Sustainable Climate Solutions Consultation, Goshen, IN, March 24-26, 2017.
- EAB Student Success Collaborative Summit, Washington, DC, November 1-2, 2016.
- CIC Information Fluency in the Disciplines Workshop, Louisville, KY, March 10-12, 2016.
- Association of American Colleges and Universities annual meeting, Washington, DC, January 20-23, 2016.
- Council of Independent Colleges Institute for Chief Academic Officers, Baltimore, MD, November 7-9, 2015.
- Values Based Leadership, Laurelville Christian Retreat Center, Mt. Pleasant, PA, October 27-29, 2015, and February 23-25, 2016.
- Council of Independent Colleges Symposium on the Liberal Arts, Washington, DC, September 17, 2015
- MAA MathFest, Washington, DC, August 5-8, 2015.
- Virginia Network conference, Richmond, VA, May 29, 2015.
- Council of Independent Colleges NetVUE Conference, St. Louis, MO, March 26-28, 2015.
- EAB Student Success Collaborative Summit, Washington, DC, January 22-23, 2015.
- MAA MathFest, Portland, OR, August 7-9, 2014.
- CCCU Forum: Engaged Community, Los Angeles, CA, February 12-14, 2014.
- National Joint Meetings of the MAA and the AMS, Washington, DC, January 16-18, 2014.

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