Daniel (Deej) Heath

Professor of Mathematics

Daniel Heath - Associate Professor and Department Chair

Phone: 253-535-7401

Email: heathdj@plu.edu

Office Location: Morken Center for Learning & Technology - 262

Office Hours: (On Campus) M W F: 1:45 pm - 3:00 pm (On Campus) Mon - Fri: By Appointment

  • Professional
  • Biography

Education

  • Ph.D., Mathematics, University of California at Davis, 1994
  • M.A., Mathematics, University of California at Davis
  • B.S., Mathematics, cum laude, St. Olaf College, 1987

Areas of Emphasis or Expertise

  • Knot Theory
  • Geometry

Selected Presentations

  • Pacific Northwest Mathematics Association of America meeting, Straightedge and Compass Constructions in Spherical Geometry (April 11, 2015)
  • MathFest, Euclidean & non-Euclidean Origametry (August 7, 2014)
  • Guest lecture, The Mathematics of Kirigami, University of Washington, Tacoma (May 21, 2013)
  • Joint Mathematics Meetings, Geometry Playground v. 1.4 (January 9, 2013)
  • PLU Mathematics Seminar, In a Bind about Knot Theory, Pacific Lutheran University (October 22, 2010)

Selected Articles

  • "Straightedge and Compass Constructions in Spherical Geometry." Mathematics Magazine 2014, Refereed. Winner of the 2015 Carl B. Allendoerfer prize for expository excellence.
  • Daniel J. Heath and Joshua Jacobs. "Geometry Playground." The MAA Mathematical Sciences Digital Library, Loci: Resources 2010, Refereed.
  • "Rethinking Pythagoras." The MAA Mathematical Sciences Digital Library, Loci 2010, Refereed.
  • D. Heath, M. Isaacs, J. Kiltenen and J. Sklar. "Symmetric and Alternating Groups Generated by a Full Cycle and Another Element." American Mathematical Monthly Vol. 116, No. 5, 2009. Refereed.
  • D. Heath, T. Hodgson and D. Schultz. "Applets, Functions, and a Dynamic Understanding of Calculus." ON-Math Online Journal of School Mathematics Vol. 4, No. 1, 2006. Refereed.

Accolades

  • Winner of the MAA's 2015 Carl B. Allendoerfer Award for Expository Excellence for Straightedge and Compass Constructions in Spherical Geometry
  • Certificate of Gratitude for extraordinary volunteer service, from the Graham Kapowsin Community Council, December 14, 2011 and December 8, 2010
  • HECB Grant supported Professional Development Workshops Committee, February-June, 2008
  • Diversity Advocate Award from the PLU Diversity Center, May, 2005
  • Outstanding Service Award from the PLU Volunteer Center, April, 2005

Biography

Daniel Heath, also known as “Deej,” earned a B.A. in mathematics at St. Olaf College, where he was one of the first few math majors to study in the Budapest Semesters in Mathematics program. He went on to earn an M.A. and Ph.D. in mathematics at the University of California at Davis, and continued to postgraduate study in geometric topology at Nara Women’s University. His scholarly interests include low-dimensional topology (knot theory) and geometry.