Brian J.

Travers
Salem State University • 352 Lafayette Street • Salem, MA 01970
978.542.6339 • btravers@salemstate.edu • http://btravers.weebly.com
Education
Ph.D. in Mathematics
University of Rhode Island Kingston, RI, May 2004
Dissertation: New Z-Cyclic Generalized Whist Designs and Generalized Whist Frames
Advisor: Dr. Norman J. Finizio
M.S. in Mathematics
University of Rhode Island Kingston, RI, May 2001
B.A. Mathematics, Secondary Education Concentration
Rhode Island College Providence, RI, May 1995
Professional Experience
Current Academic Positions Held: Salem State University
Salem State University
Associate Professor of Mathematics, September 2010 - Present
Salem State University
Assistant Professor of Mathematics, September 2004 - August 2010
• Develop and teach undergraduate and graduate courses for majors and minors
• Develop courses in collaboration with faculty in mathematics department
• Serve as academic advisor to 30+ undergraduate students per year
Departmental Committees
Coordinator of Secondary Education
January 2005 - June 2016
• Coordinate secondary education at the undergraduate level for the mathematics department
• Observe and evaluate secondary and middle school education mathematics students at the undergraduate and
graduate level in their student teaching placements
• Facilitate meetings with student teachers and cooperating teachers
• Advise prospective secondary and middle school teachers during their undergraduate careers
Member of Peer Review Committee
2011-2012, 2013-2014
• Observe and evaluate department colleagues for personal actions
• Successfully evaluated 6 candidates for promotion or tenure
Member of Curriculum Committee
2009-2016, Chair 2015-2016
• Developed new business mathematics course
• Created common final examination for MAT 090 Basic Algebra
• Developed suggested syllabi for MAT 123 and MAT 124 Mathematics for Elementary Teachers I and II
• Revised course descriptions for department offerings
Member of Assessment Committee
2004-2010, 2015-2016, Chair 2007-2010
• Developed portfolio system for assessing of majors
• Performed study on performance of students in service courses
• Performed study on correlation between success in MAT 090 and in following mathematics course
Calculus Coordinator
2005-2010
• Facilitated sharing of progress in classes with instructors of subsequent classes
• Monitored material covered by different instructors to maintain consistency in covered topics
Member of Search Committee
2006-2007, 2012-2014, 2015-2016
• Successfully evaluated candidates that led to the hire of a tenure-track faculty member
• Successfully evaluated candidates that led to the hire of one-year temporary faculty members
MAT Coordinator
Spring 2009
• Evaluated prospective students for admission into the MAT program
• Advised prospective and accepted graduate students
 Member of Ad-Hoc Committee on Procedures
2004-2007
• Revised department procedures for chair elections
Member of Thomas G. Lathrop Award Committee
2004-2006,2012-2016
• Evaluated students to select recipient(s) of annual award for top mathematics and computer science students
• Presented award to a 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017 winning student
Leadership Positions: Salem State University
Chair, Mathematics Department
July 2017-Present
Interim Chair, Mathematics Department
July 2016-June 2017
• Schedule instructors and classes for upcoming semesters
• Manage adjunct budget with regards to class scheduling
• Oversee finances of the mathematics department
• Observe colleagues up for personnel actions
• Observe adjunct faculty in line with contractual obligations
• Attend open house events to meet and advise prospective students
• Attend orientation sessions to advise students and handle enrollment
• Assumed role of Mathematics Lab supervisor
– Hired mathematics tutors to work in the lab
– Scheduled tutors to maintain consistent hours of operation
– Collected data on students receiving help in lab
Member of PACE (Program Area Coordinators in Education)
2015-2016
Member of CLAS (Committee on Licensure in the Arts and Sciences)
2005-2015
Chair of CLAS
2007-2014
• Led interdisciplinary faculty group (16+departments of Arts and Sciences and Secondary Education) charged
with making curriculum decisions, both undergraduate and graduate, around education licensure programs
• Successfully chaired committee through 2013 NCATE accreditation
• Created new tracking forms for secondary education minors and students in specialist programs
• Developed new practicum seminar led by content area faculty
• Advocated successfully for the inclusion of two content- based Methods courses in 4+1 program
University Liaison to PARCC (Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers)
2015-2016
• Attend state-wide meetings and communicate information about PARCC around campus
• Develop Salem State’s policy regarding credit received by incoming students based on exam performance
• Participated in Algebra II Postsecondary Educators’ Judgment study
Faculty Assessment Liaison for PARCC
2015-2016
• Attend state-wide meetings focused assessing the PARCC exam
• Educate faculty in the Mathematics department on the usage of the exam and the impact on our future
students
Member of School of Education Assessment Committee
2008-2014
• Instrumental in the design and implementation of the Assessment of Professional Dispositions (formerly
Professional Attribute Scale)
• Developed benchmarks and milestones for undergraduate careers of teacher candidates
• Suggested revisions of rubrics and templates of lesson and unit plans to school of education faculty
Member of School of Education Dean Search Committee
2013
• Served on committee that successfully hired first Dean of the School of Education
Member of School of Education Associate Dean Search Committee
2018
• Served on committee that successfully hired Associate Dean of the School of Education
Member of School of Education Field Placement Committee
2005-2007
• Revised the way students gained field placements for pre-practicum experiences
 Member of School of Arts and Science Strategic Planning Committee
2004-2007
• Developed Strategic Plan for Salem State
• Served on subcommittee to determine keynote speaker for annual retreat
Faculty Advisor, Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity
Spring 2016-Present
• Attend chapter meetings to advise matters dealing with planning and fundraising
• Attend fraternity events on and off campus in supervisory role
Member of Graduate and Research Assistantship Evaluation Committee
Spring 2017
• Evaluated all proposals for graduate assistantships and research assistantships to determine which positions
to fund for AY 2017-2018
Leadership Positions: Outside of Salem State University
Member, DESE Standards Review Panel in ELA and Math
Spring 2016-Fall 2016
• Served as content advisor for the Massachusetts Mathematics Curriculum Framework revisions
• Attend state-wide meetings with members of DESE and DHE, as well as K-12 teachers
• Recommend proposed changes to the Frameworks with an eye towards the creation of the MCAS2
examination
• Provide feedback to the state in preparation for the creation of the MCAS-2 exams
Mentor, The Academy for Leadership and Development
2018-present
• Meet with mentee every 4-6 weeks to discuss his personal plan and progress with program goals
• Meet to discuss class satisfying DPDS class for the mathematics department
Additional Academic Positions Held
University of Rhode Island
Graduate Assistant, 1999 - 2004
• Responsible for teaching class, administering exams and assigning and evaluating all course work.
• Undergraduate Courses Taught:
Precalculus, Calculus I & II
Director
Math Explorers Summer Camp, 2002-2003
• Coordinated activities of math camp held at the University of Rhode Island for children in grades 4-10
• Scheduled and coordinated four weeks of camp including all administrative tasks
• Instructed two weeks of camp for older children, hired instructors for younger children
Graduate Student Mentor
University of Rhode Island, August 2001, 2002, 2003
• Served as mentor at workshops organized by the Graduate School of the University of Rhode Island on
Teaching and Learning for Graduate Assistants in the Sciences, Mathematics, Engineering and Computer
Science
• Organized daily meetings with trainees, observed and critiqued trainee presentations, and discussed teaching
philosophies and experiences.
Courses Developed and Taught: Salem State University
• Undergraduate Mathematics Courses:
MAT 090 Basic Algebra
MAT 220 Calculus I
MAT 108 Finite Mathematics
MAT 221 Calculus II
MAT 123 Mathematics for Elementary Teachers I
MAT 234 Introduction to Mathematical Proofs
MAT 124 Mathematics for Elementary Teachers II
MAT 240/304A Linear Algebra
MAT 147/247 Statistics
MAT 303A Abstract Algebra
MAT 150/110 Precalculus
MAT 316 Combinatorics
MAT 214A Discrete Structures
MAT 409 Complex Variables
MAT 208 Business Calculus
MAT 414 Linear Algebra II
MAT 218 Introduction to Mathematical Computing
MAT 500 Directed Study in Mathematics
• First Year Seminar Courses:
FYMA 100 Sabermetrics
 • Graduate Mathematics Courses:
MAT 708 Cryptography
MAT 730 Directed Study in Graduate Mathematics (Graph Theory)
MSM 701 Patterns, Relations and Algebra for Middle School Teachers
MSM 703 Precalculus for Middle School Teachers
MSM 705 Geometry and Measurement for Middle School Teachers
MSM 707 Number Systems for Middle School Teachers
MSM 709 Data, Statistics and Probability for Middle School Teachers
MSM 711 Linear Systems for Middle School Teachers
MSM 713 Calculus for Middle School Teachers
MSM 715 Discrete Mathematics for Middle School Teachers

• Undergraduate Education Courses:

EDU 337M Methods in Teaching Secondary Mathematics
EDU 495 Practicum in Teaching Mathematics (8-12)

• Graduate Education Courses:

EDU 925A Practicum in Secondary Education
EDU 925MA/MB Practicum/Internship Seminar in Teaching Mathematics
EDU 990 Practicum/Seminar in Middle School Math/Science
EME 990 Practicum/Seminar in Middle School Mathematics

• Technology implemented in classroom:

TI-83/84 calculators
TI-SmartView
Geometer’s Sketchpad
Poll Everywhere
Computer Algebra Systems (Mathematica, Maple)
Publications and Research
• Curriculum for National Elevator Industry Educational Program
Developed six units and assessment materials, 2017-2018
• Trade Skills 160: Basic Mathematics Concepts
• Trade Skills 170: Measurement
• Electrical Fundamentals 305: Review of Basic Mathematics Concepts
• Electrical Fundamentals 310: Working with Measurement Prefixes and Units
• Electrical Fundamentals 315: Fundamentals of Equations and Formulas
• Electrical Fundamentals 320: Ratio and Proportion
• Quantitative Methods for Business and Finance
self published 2016, Uploaded to Digital Commons, 2018
• Assessing the Accuracy of Historic Base Ball study
ongoing throughout 2017-2019
• Assessment of Professional Dispositions (fully implemented in 2016 after 2015 pilot)
• Professional Attributes Scale (implemented in School of Education (2011-2015)
• Finite Mathematics A Business Approach
with James Lampes, self published (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012)
• New Z-Cyclic (t, 8) GWhD(v), t = 2, 4
with M. Buratti, N.J. Finizio and M. Greig
Utilitas Mathematica 72 (2007), 125-138.
• Z-Cyclic Generalized Whist Frames and Z- Cyclic Generalized Whist Tournaments
with N. J. Finizio.
Discrete Mathematics 279 (2004), 215-233.
• (t, 12) GWhD(12n + 1) Existence Results for t = 2, 3, 4
with S. Costa and N.J. Finizio.
Congressus Numerantium 161 (2003), 5-18.
• New Z-Cyclic (2, 6) GWhD(v) and ZCPS (2, 6) GWhD(v)
with J.R. Abel, G. Ge and N.J. Finizio
(In Progress)
Invited Lectures, Presentations and Workshops
• Why I Teach: A Pop-Up Presentation
Presented at the Salem State Education Unit Retreat, May 2016
• 19th Century Base Ball from 1845-1898
Presented in senior seminar class for history majors, Spring 2009, 2012
• Asking the Right Kinds of Questions to Your Class
Presented at workshops for Graduate Assistant Training organized by the Graduate School, University of
Rhode Island, August 2002, 2003.
• Frames and Group Divisible Designs
Presented at Combinatorics Seminar, University of Rhode Island, Spring 2001.
Member of Doctoral Defense Committee
• With Alessandro Simone Agnello, “Human-Information Interaction Through Analysis of Common
Heterogeneous Data”, defense Spring 2016
• Served as member of doctoral defense committee for candidate at the University of
Massachusetts-Lowell for dissertation in computer science
• Served as writing advisor throughout the revision process
• With Michael Nourai, ”Protecting individual Users, Their Accounts and Financial Asset from Possible
Fraudulent Activity”, defense 2017
• Served as member of doctoral defense committee for candidate at the University of
Massachusetts-Lowell for dissertation in computer science
• Served as writing advisor throughout the revision process

Student Research Supervised

• With Jarrod Douglass, “Quarterback Clutch Rating”, independent project, Spring 2015
• Developed a new objective metric for measuring the effectiveness of quarterbacks based on game
situations
• With Janelle DiCarlo, “The Math Behind Sudoku”, presented at the Salem State University Undergraduate
Research Symposium, Spring 2011
• With Julie Klipfel, “Connecting Hadamard Matrices to Gray Codes”, presented at the Salem State University
Undergraduate Research Symposium, Spring 2010
• With Caitlin Phifer, “The Existence of Complete Latin Squares of Odd Order”, presented at the Salem State
University Undergraduate Research Symposium, Spring 2009
• With Mark McGettrick, “What’s so special about Kevin Bacon? Using Graph Theory to investigate the
properties of Social Networks”, presented at MAA Regional Conference, Keene State College, Spring 2007
Awards
• Nominee for the Third Annual Distinguished Teaching Award, 2018
• Sine Award, University of Rhode Island, 2004
Award annually to top graduate student in Mathematics
Professional Affiliations
• American Mathematical Society
• Institute of Combinatorics and its Applications
• Mathematical Association of America
• National Education Association
• Massachusetts Teacher Association
• Massachusetts State College Association
Outside Affiliations
• National Trustee, Vintage Base Ball Association (VBBA), March 2015 - March 2017
• Created historic base ball survey to assess the accuracy in rules and customs of member clubs across the
country
• Analyzing data in ongoing project that will culminate in fall, 2017