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Alan Parry

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 field of differential geometry. Specifically, Alan is interested the subfield of mathematical general relativity and its applications to the dark matter problem. Alan is also interested in the problem of classifying solvable Lie algebras.

Alan also has interests in mathematics education research and a budding interest in voting theory.

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 2210

Calculus III, Summer 2024

MATH 2020

Mathematics for Elementary Teachers II, Summer 2024

MATH 4330

Theory of Linear Algebra, Spring 2024

Presentations

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, Ogden, UT. (October 21, 2024)
Parry, Alan (Co-Presenter), Kidd, John (Co-Presenter), Utah State Legislature Political Subdivisions Interim Committee, "Evaluating Utah's Ranked Choice Voting Pilot Program", Utah State Legislature, Utah State Capitol, SLC, UT. (October 16, 2024)
Parry, Alan (Presenter & Author), BYU Math Colloquium, "Modern Opportunities to Reconsider the Mathematics Curriculum at All Levels", Brigham Young University, Brigham Young University. (January 16, 2024)
Parry, Alan , Roots of Knowledge Lecture Series, "The Day Gravity and Curvature Met", UVU Fulton Library, Utah Valley University. (November 14, 2019)

Scholarly/Creative Works

Mogilski, Wiktor , Parry, Alan , (2025) "A Reflective Homework System in Mathematics Courses" . New York, NY: Journal of Mathematics Education at Teachers College.
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
Parry, Alan , Kidd, John , (2024) "Deficiencies in Recent Research on Ranked Choice Voting Ballot Error Rates" . Wellesley, MA: Institute for Mathematics and Democracy. https://mathematics-democracy-institute.org/deficiencies-in-recent-research-on-ranked-choice-voting-ballot-error-rates/

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