I’m an associate professor in the Mathematics Department at Western Oregon University.

I believe that everyone deserves to succeed in and enjoy mathematics, and that mathematical confidence leads to an empowered and joyful life. As an educator, I pursue equity-focused mathematics pedagogy in both general and specialized classes, and always enjoy learning about new approaches and perspectives on teaching.

During Fall Term 2023, I am teaching:

• Math 406: Special Topics in Knot Theory

As a researcher, I am interested in recreational mathematics, primarily involving crossword puzzles and board games. Here is a recent preprint of a paper about crossword puzzles and multigraphs (joint with Dr. Ben Coté, to appear in Recreational Mathematics Magazine). I also construct crossword puzzles.

In addition to my teaching and scholarship, I currently serve as the First Year Seminar Coordinator. Additionally, I am engaged in a variety of activities around scholarship, textbook authorship, and department and university assessment.  As a personal endeavor, I maintain the Great WOU Acronym List.

If you’re a student in one of my classes, you can find your course information on the Canvas page for your course. To access Canvas, log into your WOU Portal and click on the Canvas icon.

I work primarily on-campus in MNB 126, except on Fridays, when I typically work from home. For my students, information about how to schedule a meeting with me can be found on Canvas.

Feel free to contact me via email at merrill@wou.edu with any questions. I am happy to set up a phone call, Zoom meeting, or in-person meeting at your request. For general questions about the Mathematics Department, please email mathematics@wou.edu.