R. Smith Vita

Ronald K. Smith

• Ph.D., Mathematics, Iowa State University 1984; Thesis: Handling of Finite-Dimensional Nonassociative Algebras
• M.S., Mathematics, Iowa State University 1978; Paper: Representation of the Symmetric Group, Sn
• B.S., Mathematics, Graceland University 1974

PRESENTATIONS

On Saturday, February 1, 1997, Ron Smith gave a workshop at the Iowa Council of Teachers of Mathematics (ICTM) meeting in Des Moines in "Secret Codes in the Classroom." After a short intorduction to Public Key Encryption systems in general and the RSA system in particular, workshop participants were sent secret messages to each other using programs written for TI-82 calculators by Ron Smith for encrypting and deciphering messages.

CONFERENCES & WORKSHOPS ATTENDED

• UNI Conference on teaching mathematics to undergraduates at Cedar Falls, Iowa, March 29, 1997

HONORS/AWARDS

• Excellence in Teaching Award; 1994
• Educator's Grant. SIGGRAPH '89 (1 of 28 grants); 1989
• Student Academic Council Teaching Commendation; 1983
• Graceland Gold Seal (Highest GPA of graduating class); 1974
• Governor General's Award (Top marks on Sskatchewan provincial exams); 1970

COURSES TAUGHT AT Graceland University

• 122 Number Systems
• 125 Informal Geometry
• 129 Sets and Logic
• 133 Elementary Functions
• 135 Discrete Math
• 151 Calculus
• 152 Calculus II
• 251 Calculus III
• 252 Calculus IV
• 325 Discrete Math Models
• 330 Differential Equations
• 332 Modern Geometry
• 333 Modern Algebra
• 390 Math Seminar
• 393 Fractals
• 393 Topology
• 435 Advanced Analysis
• 436 Numerical Analysis

From Computer Science

• 130 Programming I
• 132 Programming II
• 333 Data Structures
• 342 Computer Graphics
• 393 Fractals
• 436 Numerical Analysis

Winter Term Courses

• 2002 Book of Mormon in Context
• 2000 Show Me God
• 1998 A-Z Manufacturing
• 1997 Beginning Guitar
• 1995 Beginning Guitar
• 1994 HyperCard
• 1992 Book of Mormon
• 1991 Taiwan Exchange
• 1990 HyperCard
• 1988 Mayan Epigraphy
• 1987 Eskimos
• 1986 Data Encription
• 1985 Science and Scripture
• 1984 4-D Graphics
• 1980 Explorations in Math
• 1979 Artificial Intelligence

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVIY

• Mathematical Association of America. Member, 1978 to present.
• Iowa section nominations committee, 1998, 1995; chair: 1993, 1990.
• Iowa section chair elect, 1991, chair 1992
• Association for Computing Machinery and SIGGRAPH (Special Interest Group: Graphics) Member, 1989-1992

Conferences

• Iowa Secton MAA. 82, 85-00, Apr 6 2002
• ICTM, Des Moines, IA. Feb1, 1997
• AAHE Assessment Conference, Washington, D.C. Jun 9-11, 1996
• Joint Meetings of the MAA, CMS, AMS. Vancouver, B.C. Aug 13-19, 1993
• NSF Calculus workshop. St. Olaf College. Jul 11-16 1993
• NSF reader. Calculus Reform and the Bridge to Calculus. Jan 28-30 1992
• Joint meetings of the AMS and MAA. San Antonio, TX. Jan 13-16 1992
• Governor's Conference on Mathematics Education, Aug 1992
• Computer Visualization Conference. University of Iowa. Mar 1990
• Conference on Calculus Revision. William Jewell College. Jan 1990
• SIGGRAPH '89. Boston, MA. Aug 1989

Presentations

• Mayan and Olmec Ruins in Mexico. Lamoni Grade 6 Students. Jan 2000
• Tuition Discounting Iowa MAA. Luther College. Apr 18, 1998
• Secret Codes in the Classroom. ICTM. Des Moines, IA. Feb 1, 1997
• Dimensions. Center Place Restoration School, Independence, MO. Dec 17 1995
• Infinite arithmetic. Lamoni Elementary TAG students. March 14, 1995
• Towards a more fair, efficient, and compassionate Pinewood Derby. Iowa Section MAA. Luther College. Apr 16 1993
• Dimensions. Lamonii Elementary TAG Students. Feb 16 1993
• Raising TAG Students. Parents of TAG students in the Fort Dodge Parochial schools. Jan 4 1992
• Introduction to computers. Computer Literary Class. Lamoni Group Home. Sep 29 1992
• The Four Color Theorem. Iowa Mathematical Sciences. Graceland College Apr 1991
• HyperCard in the mathematics classroom. Iowa Mathematical Sciences Meetings. ISU. Apr 1990
• Minimal balls and the parallelogram law. Iowa Mathematical Sciences meetings. Coe College. Apr 1989
• Chaos in Our Ranks. Iowa Mathematical Sciences Meetings. UNI Apr 1987
• Artificial Intelligence. Mt. Ayr, IA TAG students. Feb 1986

Publications

• Smith, R. K. Solution to Problem 652 (May 1999). The College Mathematics Journal. May 2000.
• R.K. Smith. The Kingdom Way study guide. Paragon Publishing. Mt. Ayr, Iowa 1997
• Abstract of Joong, Fang. Review of Biography of Alfred North Whitehead by Victor Lowe. Process Studies 18/2 (1990)
• Hentzel, I.R., and R.K. Smith. Tic-Tac-Total? The Four Star Puzler, 28 (1983), 12

Computer Consulting

• Circulation Program for the Bethany Republican Clipper Installed November 1991. Maintained to present
• Circulation Program for the Mount Ayr Record News. Installed June, 1992. Maintained to present
• Records Program for Troost Animal Hospital, Kansas City, MO. Maintained to present

Unpublished Research

• Towards a more fair, efficient, and compassionate Pinewood Derby schedule. This paper explores a problem in scheduling. The solution that I discovered has already been implemented in a computer program for scheduling the Pinewood Derby in Lamoni
• The generalized parallelogram law. The Parallelogram law is equivalent to the existence of an inner product in a normed linear space. A generalization of that identity is equivalent to the inner product in a much more general setting. This identity is also very useful for analytically proving many of the classical results of convexity theory.

Committees

• Concert/Lecture Committee. 01-02
• Faculty Development Committee. Secretary 97-00
• Peace Studies Committee. 97-00
• General Education Committee Goal #8 (GETEC). Chair 96-98, 97-98, 98-99
• Academic Information Services Steering Committee (AISSC) 97-98
• Faculty Advisory Committee (FAC). Chair 91-92, Chair 92-93, 95-96, Chair 96-97
• Intercultural Affairs Committee. 1992-93
• Faculty Salary Committee, 1991-present
• Standing committee on evaluation, promotion, and tenure, 1988-90
• Committee on Student Welfare, 1989-90
• Previous Committees: Alumni board (faculty representative), Intercultural Affairs, NCATE self study committee on mission and purpose, Winter term evaluation committee, Faculty studies, and Library committee.

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY

• Graceland Book of Mormon Club faculty sponsor 2000,2002.
• Cosponsor Restoration 70 Missionary Family Reunion 2001,2002
• Math Club faculty sponsor 1988-93, 97-98, 98-99
• Iowa Math Contest team sponsor 1997, 98, 99
• Graceland Guitar Club faculty sponsor 1997-98, 98-99
• Mathematical Modeling Contest Team sponsor 1990-98
• Graceland Choir; Brahm's Requiem 1999
• Graceland Players; (The Fantastics, 1990. Fiddler on the Roof, 1984. The Music Man, 1982. J.B., 1979. Li'l Abner, 1978)
• Intercultural Club faculty sponsor 1988-89
• Teacher--Student Scripture Study 1998
• Guest Minister--Michigan Restoration Women's Meeting 1998
• Guest Minister--Central Missouri Restoration Reunion 1998
• Guest Minister--South Chrysler Reunion 1995
• Camp Pastor--Bandera Texas Junior High 1995
• Camp Pastor--Lamoni Junior Camp 1991 and 1992
• Camp Pastor--Central Washington Senior High 1992
• Adult Sponsor--Group Work Camp in Toccoa GA 1992
• Director Senior High Youth Camp 1989 and 1990
• Delegate to the world conference of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, April, 1990

BIOGRAPHICAL DATA

I was born September 15, 1952 in Ames, Iowa. I have lived in Minnesota, Hawaii, Iowa, Texas, and Missouri, as well as Saskatchewan, Canada. I have traveled to most of the 50 United States of America, to 5 Canadian provinces, to most of the Mexican states, and to England, Wales, Scotland, West Germany, and France. Most recently, I visited Egypt and Kenya. I have studied Spanish, French, and Russian. I was happily married to Diane P. Calford on May 28, 1977. We adopted two boys, Jonathon Ammon Smith (8/28/74), and Lehi Kenneth Smith (8/21/79) in 1987. I have two granddaughters, Elizabeth and Mercedes. I am a Seventy in a Restoration branch of the Church of Jesus Christ, and have been actively engaged in missionary work in the U.S. and Kenya. I enjoy playing guitar, singing, acting, youth camping, reading, preaching, leading campfires, programming, and playing games.