ALAN LEVINE

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF MATHEMATICS

FRANKLIN AND MARSHALL COLLEGE
LANCASTER, PA 17604

2330 Spring Valley Road
Lancaster, PA 17601

(717) 392-3509 (Home)
(717) 291-4040 (Office)
(717) 358-4507 (Fax)

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EDUCATION

• Ph.D. (1983), M.S. (1981) State University of New York at Stony Brook
• M.A. (1979) Hofstra University
• B.S. (1976) State University of New York at Stony Brook

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PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS

Most of my efforts in the past several years have been directed towards revising the mathematics curriculum at Franklin and Marshall. In particular, I have focused on several areas:

• MATHEMATICS AND MUSIC
  My current area of interest is in the mathematical, physical and psychological foundations of music. I taught a course entitled, "Sound, Music and Science" in the fall of 2008, and will teach it again in the fall of 2009.
  
  
• THE NUMBER PI
  In 2005, I became fascinated by the number pi. I spent the summer of 2005 investigating many of the branches of mathematics in which pi makes a (sometimes unexpected) appearance, and the many ways in which pi can be calculated, at least approximately. During the 2005-06 school year, I prepared a series of displays on pi. You can find them here. In the fall of 2006, I taught an elective course entitled, "A Slice of Pi". I have also given several talks on the subject.
  
  
• MATHEMATICS AND SPORTS
  I have done quite a bit of research into the applications of mathematical modelling to sports. I have taught a first-year seminar on the topic twice and have worked with several students on independent study projects.
  
  
• POST-CALCULUS CURRICULUM
  Developer of Introduction to Higher Mathematics , a new course to help students make the transition from calculus to advanced mathematics courses. Author of textbook, "Discovering Higher Mathematics: 4 Habits of Highly Effective Mathematicians", published by Academic Press , 2000. It is available from the publisher or from Amazon . It should be available soon as an eBook.
  
  
• CALCULUS REFORM
  Author, with George Rosenstein, of "Discovering Calculus" , a calculus text written in the spirit of the "reform" movement that swept the calculus teaching world in the early '90's. Alas, it did not make us millionaires.

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PERSONAL INTERESTS

• GENEALOGY
  Since 2004, I have become deeply interested in genealogy. I have researched some branches of my family back to the early 1800's in Poland. In the process, I have discovered many relatives that I never knew I had, or hadn't seen in 20 or 30 years. My family tree has over 1300 names in it, and is growing by the day.
  
  I have also started a Jewish Genealogy Center at Congregation Shaarai Shomayim. You can email me there at roots@shaarai.org. I might be able to help you discover your roots, too.
  
  
• KLEZMER BAND
  I am the director of the Chopped Liver River Band , an eclectic group of about 14 musicians who play mostly klezmer (Eastern European/Yiddish) music. We are affiliated with Congregation Shaarai Shomayim in Lancaster, PA.
  
  We are proud to announce the release of our first CD, "A Shmear of Chopped Liver", a compilation of 13 of our most popular numbers, including "Hava Nagila", "Sunrise, Sunset", "Bei Mir bist du Schoen", "Papiros'n", "Ocho Kandelikas" and "7:40".
  
  The CD is available from the temple office or from CDBaby.com . Just search for "Chopped Liver River Band". Or, you can download it from iTunes.
  
  
• SINGING
  I spent 12 years in the Red Rose Barbershop Chorus . I was the assistant director, Music VP, and I edited the newsletter, the Red Rose Rag. I also made learning CD's and tapes for the chorus and quartets, in which I sang all 4 parts. I retired from the Red Rose Chorus in 2007, but am now singing in the Franklin and Marshall College Chorus. There is quite a difference between barbershop and Mozart or Dvorak.
  
  
• BIG BROTHERS/BIG SISTERS.
  I was a volunteer with BBBS for 30 years, retiring in 2004, after being matched to seven little brothers over the years. I am an honorary board member of BBBS of Lancaster.

  One of my former little brothers, Julian, has a daughter Kaily, born 2003.
  
  
  

• SHOWING PICTURES OF MY NIECE AND NEPHEW
  
  Allison, born 1996.
  
  Benjamin , born 2000.

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This page is maintained by Alan Levine.
Last updated June 12, 2009.