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Faculty Member

Alan Parry

Biography

Alan joined the UVU faculty in 2016 and currently serves in the Department of Mathematics.

Alan loves teaching and helping students see the wonder of mathematics around them. His teaching philosophy is centered on three key ideas_ (1) genuine care for his students and a desire for their success, (2) fostering an enjoyable and comfortable classroom atmosphere to engender student investment and engagement in the course, and (3) using several different approaches to course material in order to help students learn their way.

Alan's mathematical research interests are in the mathematics of elections and mathematics education. Alan has also done research in differential geometry and its subfield of mathematical general relativity.

Academic Positions Held

Associate Professor of Mathematics - Utah Valley University - 2021 - present

Visiting Associate Professor of Mathematics - Brigham Young University - 2024 - 2025

Chair of the Department of Mathematics - Utah Valley University - 2021 - 2024

Associate Chair of the Department or Mathematics - Utah Valley University - 2018 - 2021

Assistant Professor of Mathematics - Utah Valley University - 2016 - 2021

Visiting Assistant Professor of Mathematics - University of Connecticut - 2013 - 2016

Education

PhD, Duke University, 2013

Major: Mathematics

MA, Duke University, 2008

Major: Mathematics

MS, Utah State University, 2007

Major: Mathematics

BS, Utah State University, 2006

Major: Mathematics

Teaching

MATH 1210

Calculus I, Fall 2025

MATH 2250

Differential Equations and Linear Algebra, Fall 2025

MATH 3100

Foundations of Geometry, Fall 2025

MATH 1000R

Math Leap, Fall 2025

MATH 1210

Calculus I QL, Summer 2025

MATH 1210

Calculus I QL, Summer 2025

Presentations

Parry, Alan , t^3: tea time talks, "Do We Vote the Wrong Way?", Utah Valley University Mathematics Department, Utah Valley University. (December 3, 2025)
Parry, Alan , BYU Mathematics Undergraduate Colloquium, "Do We Vote the Wrong Way?", BYU Mathematics Department, Brigham Young University. (November 12, 2025)
Parry, Alan , MAA Intermountain Section Speaker Program, "Do We Vote the Wrong Way?", MAA Intermountain Section, Online. (October 7, 2025)
Parry, Alan (Presenter & Author), Kidd, John (Presenter & Author), Array, "An Analysis of Utah's Ranked Choice Voting Pilot Program", Gary R. Herbert Institute for Public Policy, UVU Online Webinar. (January 24, 2025)
Parry, Alan (Presenter & Author), Mogilski, Wiktor (Co-Author), Simons, Joe (Co-Author), Havens, Daniel (Co-Author), 2025 Joint Mathematics Meetings, "Analysis Paralysis_ Modern Opportunities to Reconsider the Mathematics Curriculum at All Levels", AMS, Seattle, WA. (January 8, 2025)
Parry, Alan (Presenter & Author), Mathematics Monday_ Math Factor/Math Department Seminar, "Do We Vote the Right Way?", Weber State University, Weber State University. (October 21, 2024)

Scholarly/Creative Works

Parry, Alan , Havens, Daniel , Gundlach, Michael , Mogilski, Wiktor , Simons, Joe , "Analysis Paralysis_ On the Potential Overemphasis of Calculus and Analysis in the Undergraduate and Graduate Mathematics Curricula" . Alexandria, VA: Proceedings of the 28th Annual Conference on Research in Undergraduate Mathematics Education.
Mogilski, Wiktor , Parry, Alan , (2025) "Reflective Homework System in Mathematics Courses" (Issue: 1, vol. 16). New York, NY: Journal of Mathematics Education at Teachers College. https://doi.org/10.52214/jmetc.v16i1.12575
Kidd, John , Parry, Alan , (2025) "Research Update_ Increase Error Rates in RCV and the Impact on Election Outcomes" . Orem, UT: Gary R. Herbert Institute for Public Policy. https://www.uvu.edu/herbertinstitute/docs/addressing-increased-error-rates.pdf
Parry, Alan , Kidd, John , (2024) "Addressing Concerns About Instant Runoff Voting" . Orem, UT: Gary R. Herbert Institute for Public Policy. chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.uvu.edu/herbertinstitute/docs/web_final_addressing_concerns_about_rcv_utah.pdf
Kidd, John , Parry, Alan , (2024) "An Evaluation of the Ranked-Choice Voting Pilot in Utah" . Orem, UT: Gary R. Herbert Institute for Public Policy. chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.uvu.edu/herbertinstitute/docs/evaluation_of_rcv_pilot.pdf
Parry, Alan , Kidd, John , (2024) "Summary of Recent Reports on Ranked-Choice Voting" . Orem, UT: Gary R. Herbert Institute for Public Policy. https://www.uvu.edu/herbertinstitute/docs/summar_rcv.pdf

Awards

Board of Trustees Award of Excellence

Utah Valley University - February, 2022

Faculty Excellence Award

Utah Valley University Faculty Senate - April, 2019

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Advance HE - June, 2018

L.P. and Barbara Smith Award for Teaching Excellence

Duke University Mathematics Department - September, 2010