Celebrating Community and Curiosity: A Look Back at the MAA Seaway Section Meeting
Last weekend, St. Lawrence University proudly hosted the Mathematical Association of America Seaway Section Meeting—and what a vibrant, inspiring event it turned out to be!
With 134 registered attendees from Albany to Montreal, we set a new post-pandemic record — a testament to the growing enthusiasm for mathematics and community engagement across our region.
From the moment guests arrived, they were met with warmth, energy, and hospitality. Attendees repeatedly praised our dining services, the ease of navigating campus, and most of all — our students. Many went out of their way to share how impressed they were by the enthusiasm, kindness, and professionalism of the student volunteers and participants.
One of the invited speakers, Dr. Ranthony A. Clark, arrived Saturday morning after a grueling travel ordeal and only four hours of sleep. Yet, she shared that it was impossible to feel anything but energized after being greeted by smiling, excited students — not once, but three times before breakfast!
Event Highlights
_________________________________
Friday, 10/3 -
- Workshop: Tangible Calculus: Making Models and Manipulatives in a Makerspace
Speaker: Gabriel Dorfsman-Hopkins (St. Lawrence University)
A hands-on session that brought mathematical concepts to life through creative design. - Evening Banquet & Invited Lecture:
Held at the Best Western University Inn, attendees enjoyed a delicious meal followed by Jeff Weeks’ engaging talk, Curved-Space Pool Hall, blending geometry with imagination. - Math Jeopardy!
Host: Blair Madore (SUNY Potsdam)
A lively game show that brought laughter, competition, and camaraderie to the evening.
Saturday, 10/4 -
- Opening Announcements and Introductions in Eben Holden, followed by a warm campus welcome from President Kate Morris.
- Randolph Lecture: Driving Change: Building a Team and Overcoming Pushback for Active Learning
Speaker: Shay Fuchs (University of Toronto Mississauga) - MAA AWM Lecture: Quantitative Justice: Using Math to Change the World
Speaker: Dr. Ranthony A. Clark (Duke University) - Parallel Sessions:
Contributed talks and student presentations were held throughout Valentine and Bewkes classrooms. - Seaway NExT Discussion: How to Make Calculus Engaging with Real Data and Cool Examples
Speakers: Jeff Johannes (SUNY Geneseo) and Marie MacDonald (Cornell University) - Special Activity: Try-It-Yourself Curved-Space Pool
Facilitator: Jeff Weeks - Ask Me Anything!: A listening session with the MAA Seaway Section Chair-Elect
Speaker: Elizabeth Wilcox (SUNY Oswego)
Panelists: Sarah Hanusch (SUNY Oswego), Jane Cushman (Buffalo State), Ryan Gantner (St. John Fisher University) - Student Poster Session in Eben Holden
- Invited Closing Lecture: Sound (Information) is All You Need
Speaker: Kobi Abayomi (Arizona State University / Gumbel Demand Acceleration)
A Celebration of Student Engagement
_________________________________
One of the most exciting outcomes was the enthusiastic participation of first-year students, especially those from intro calculus courses. Their attentiveness and curiosity were a highlight of the weekend, showing that the future of mathematics is in passionate, capable hands.
A Special Shout Out & Thank You
_________________________________
Most importantly, we owe the success of this event to our Local Organizer and Host, Dr. Dan M. Look. His tireless efforts over the past several months made every detail of the weekend possible. Dr. Look is not only a Charles A. Dana Professor and Keene Award winner, but was also selected by last year’s Senior Class to give the beloved “Last Lecture” during Senior Week.
In addition to organizing this event, Dr. Look has authored a forthcoming book titled Math Cats, set to be published next week on the 21st — a testament to his creativity, tireless dedication, and passion for making mathematics both accessible and engaging — all while infusing the experience with his unmistakable personality and charm. It received a "pawsitive" review from The Library Journal and is being included in the Publishers Weekly Holiday Gift Guide for 2025.
Looking Ahead
_________________________________
As we reflect on this successful gathering, it’s clear that the heart of the event wasn’t just the math — it was the community. The connections made, the ideas exchanged, and the joy shared all speak to what we’ve built here at St. Lawrence: a place where learning is alive, inclusive, and deeply human.
Here’s to many more moments like this — and to the students who make it all possible!
