Jesse Johnson
Professor of Mathematics, Chair of the Department of Mathematics, Director of Actuarial Sciences Program, Chair of the All-University Committee

Biography

Dr. Jesse Johnson has been teaching at Westfield State University since 2013. His primary focus is providing active educational experiences for students to achieve their goals in building mathematical thinking and mastering statistical tools. His dissertation was in an intersection of computation theory and mathematical model theory, but his expertise has shifted in actuarial sciences and financial mathematical modelling. He contributes to the advancement of actuarial education by creating open-sources materials for aspiring actuaries everywhere.

Dr. Johnson serves in a number of leadership roles on campus. He serves as Chair of the Mathematics Department, the Director of Actuarial Sciences Program, and Chair of the All-University Committee.

When not teaching, Dr. Jesse engages in a number of hobbies such as baking, knitting, teaching or practicing massage therapy, singing, making cold-process soaps, scuba diving, Cross Fit, and role-playing videogames.

Education

  • Ph.D. in Mathematics - The University of Notre Dame Du Lac

  • M.S. in Mathematics - The University of Notre Dame Du Lac

  • B.S. in Mathematics - Centre College

  • A.S. in Mathematics Education - Green River Community College

  • A.A. in Arts - Green River Community College

Courses Taught

  • CAIS 0351 - Theory of Computation

  • EXPL 0101 - Money and You

  • MATH 0104 - Precalculus

  • MATH 0105 - Calculus 1

  • MATH 0106 - Calculus 2

  • MATH 0107 - Calculus 1 Supplement

  • MATH 0108 - Elementary Statistics

  • MATH 0109 - Calculus 2 Supplement

  • MATH 0110 - Math Explorations

  • MATH 0111 - Math Applications

  • MATH 0153 - Foundations: Number Systems

  • MATH 0201 - Calculus 3

  • MATH 0216 - Studies in the Literature of Mathematics

  • MATH 0220 - Discrete Structures

  • MATH 0252 - Foundations: Probability and Data Analysis

  • MATH 0300 - Discrete Math with Proofs

  • MATH 0301 - Abstract Algebra

  • MATH 0304 - Differential Equations

  • MATH 0309 - Topology

  • MATH 0311 - Number Theory

  • MATH 0335 - Numerical Analysis

  • MATH 0342 - Actuarial Problem Solving: Probability

  • MATH 0343 - Actuarial Problem Solving: Financial Mathematics

  • MATH 0344 - Probability Theory

  • MATH 0345 - Mathematical Statistics with Applications

  • MATH 0390 - Senior Seminar in Mathematics

  • MATH 0398 - Internship in Mathematics

  • MATH 0399 - Independent Study (Error-Correcting Codes)

  • MATH 0399 - Independent Study (Elliptic-Curve Cryptography)

  • MATH 0399 - Independent Study (Set Theory)

  • MATH 0399 - Independent Study (Modern Actuarial Statistics)

  • MATH 0399 - Independent Study (Statistical Learning)

  • MATH 0399 - Independent Study (Time Series)

  • MATH 0399 - Independent Study (Data Analysis Project)

  • MATH 0511 - Theory of Numbers

  • MATH 0599 - Independent Study (Algebraic Geometry)

Publications

"Computable categoricity for pseudo-exponential fields of size \(\Aleph_1\)" in Annals of Pure and Applied Logic, 165, pp. 1301-1317.

"The arithmetical hierarchy in the setting of \(\omega_1\)" in Computability, 2, pp. 93-105 with Carson, J., Knight, J., Lange, K., McCoy, C., and Wallbaum, J.

"An example related to Gregory's Theroem" in Archive for Mathematical Logic, 52, pp. 419-434 with Knight, J., Ocasio-Gonzalez, V., VanDenDriessche, S.

Community Engagement

  • Singing member of The Hartford Gay Mens Chorus.
  • Advisor for the Math Club
  • Advisor for All-Out Club

Professional Service

Honors and Awards:

  • Air and Space Forces' Sentry Educator Award
  • Co-PI on NSF S-STEM Grant “A Roadmap to Success in STEM: Mental Wellbeing, Academic, and Professional Development Supports Program (MAP).”