Dorothy Ann Assad
Academic Degrees
Ph.D., Curriculum and Instruction, specialization in mathematics education, Southern Illinois University at
Carbondale. 2005. Dissertation: Fourth Graders’ Problem Solving Strategies in a Rural School. Chair:
Dr. Jerry Becker.
Master of Arts, Secondary Education, and Kentucky Rank I teaching certificate in mathematics, physics, and
computer science, Murray State University, Murray, Kentucky. 1986, 1989.
Bachelor of Science, Mathematics, Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, Tennessee. 1969.
Additional year of graduate courses in mathematics, 1969-1970.
Professional Experience
Aug 2007 – Present
Associate Professor, Department of Mathematics, Austin Peay State University.
Primarily teach mathematics education classes.
Summers, 2008, 2009
Instructor in the Austin Peay State University Science and Mathematics Academy,
June 8 – 20. Created and taught an algebra unit, “Nonlinear Functions.”
2005-2007
Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematics, Lane College, Jackson, Tennessee.
Taught mathematics and mathematics education courses at this historically black
college. Also taught Tests and Measurements in the education department and
Methods of Teaching Science in the biology department.
Summer, 2006
Adjunct faculty, West Kentucky Community and Technical College. Taught
developmental algebra.
Jan. – May 2005
Teacher and Director, Harbor Academy, Trigg County, Kentucky Board of
Education. Coordinated educational experiences in a pilot program for at-risk
students in grades 5-12.
1998 – 2004
Director of the Columbus Regional Mathematics Collaborative at Columbus State
University, Columbus, Georgia. Planned and implemented teacher professional
development in pedagogy and mathematics content and procured grant funding for
special projects for in-service teachers and for pre-service teachers. Supervised the
selection and purchase of mathematics and science resources such as print material,
children’s literature, equipment, and technology. Served as part-time instructor in
the College of Education, including teaching web-enhanced courses. Planned
summer mathematics and science camp programs for students in grades 2-10 and
coordinated family mathematics and science events at schools. Served as university
consultant and as private consultant to local school districts to plan and implement
school improvement strategies.
1997 – 1998
Instructor, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Murray
State University. Taught mathematics education courses and a technology course.
Supervised student teachers and first-year interns.
1996 – 1997
Part-time instructor in physics, Paducah Tilghman High School, Paducah,
Kentucky.
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1990 – 1996
Adjunct instructor, Murray State University. Taught developmental mathematics
classes. Consultant with the Purchase Area Writing Project, housed at Murray State
University, providing professional development in writing across the curriculum.
1985 – 1996
Instructor in mathematics, science, and computer science, Calloway
County High School, Murray, Kentucky.
1984 – 1985
Instructor in mathematics and computer science, Apollo High School,
Owensboro, Kentucky.
Additional Experience
1970 – 1982
Self-employed. Owned and operated Colonel Mike’s National Car Washes,
Florence, Alabama. Responsible for management, accounting, and quality
control at six business locations.
Professional Service
University Service: Mathematics Department representative to Graduate and Research Council. Member of
the Graduate and Research Council Graduate Appeals Committee. Member of the Graduate Student
Extravaganza Committee. Coordinate High School Mathematics Test and assist with Middle School
Mathematics Test hosted by APSU. Member of the advisory board for the APSU STEM Center.
Professional Memberships
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Mathematical Association of America, American Association
of University Women, Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators, Tennessee Association of
Mathematics Teacher Educators, Middle Tennessee Mathematics Teachers, Tennessee Mathematics
Teachers Association, Pi Mu Epsilon Honorary Mathematics Society, Tennessee Mathematical Association
of Two-Year Colleges, Tennessee Science Teachers Association.
Community Activities
Service to Clarksville – Provided eight weeks of summer professional development workshops for
elementary and middle school teachers in the APSU service area, June 2010 and June 2011. Assisted with
STEM conferences for area teachers, 2010-2012. Provide ongoing support for area mathematics teachers,
consulting with individuals as well as presenting to larger groups.
Selected Publications and Acknowledgements
Assad, D. A. (2009). Preparing to engage students in problem solving. In M. Qazi (Ed.), Proceedings of the
6th Annual TEAM-Math Partnership Conference Pre-Session. Tuskegee, AL: Tuskegee University.
(Accepted and in process of publication.)
Assad, D. A. (2008). The preparation of elementary teachers at Austin Peay State University. In M. Qazi
(Ed.), Proceedings of the 5th Annual TEAM-Math Partnership Conference Pre-Session. Tuskegee, AL:
Tuskegee University. Downloaded January 9, 2010 from
http://www.team-math.net/tuskegeeconference/proceedings/index.html.
Assad, D. A. (2000). Chapter in Communication & Language in Mathematics Education: The PreConference Publication of Working Group 9, International Congress on Mathematical Education. Collated
by Bill Barton. University of Auckland, New Zealand, 2000.
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Assad, D. A. Making Connections: A Guide to Family Math Night, Columbus Regional Mathematics
Collaborative, Columbus State University, 2000.
Acknowledgement, Learning MicroWorlds Pro. Tom Lough. Logo Computer Systems, Inc. 1999.
Acknowledgement, Observations by US Participants on ICME-8: Reports on the Eighth International
Congress on Mathematical Education of Travel Grant Awardees (wrote summary of reports). Jerry Becker,
Editor. NCTM, Reston, VA, 1997.
Assad, D. A. (1992). The old post office. In Stages of Growth: An Anthology of Writing from the Purchase
Area Writing Project. Number 7. Sponsored by the Kentucky Department of Education and Murray State
University, Murray, Kentucky.
Assad, D. A. (1992). The congregation. In Stages of Growth: An Anthology of Writing from the Purchase
Area Writing Project. Number 7. Sponsored by the Kentucky Department of Education and Murray State
University, Murray, Kentucky.
Selected Papers and Presentations
“Multiple Approaches to Address Academic Deficiencies in Mathematics,” Tennessee Mathematics
Association of Two Year Colleges, Dyersburg State Community College, March 2011. Presented with Tyler
Turner.
“Preparing Preservice Teachers to Help Children Develop Proportional Reasoning,” Association of
Mathematics Teacher Educators, Irvine, California, January, 2011. Presented with Dr. Jackie Vogel.
“An Integrated Approach to Developing a Methods Course,” Southeastern Regional Association of Teacher
Educators Conference, October 2010. Presented with Dr. Jackie Vogel.
“Embedding Engineering and Mathematics Standards into Elementary and Middle School Science
Instruction,” Tennessee Mathematics Teachers Association/Middle Tennessee Mathematics Teachers Fall
Conference, University of Tennessee at Martin, September 2010.
“Literacy, Mathematics, and Science,” Mid-Cumberland Reading Council Meeting, Austin Peay State
University, Clarksville, Tennessee, September 2010.
“Content in a Mathematics Pedagogy Class,” Tennessee Mathematics for Elementary Education Conference,
Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, Tennessee, May 2010. Presented with Dr. Jackie Vogel.
“Problem Solving to Achieve Equity,” National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Regional Conference,
Nashville, Tennessee, November 2009.
“Assessment for Learning in an Elementary School Math Classroom,” National Council of Teachers of
Mathematics Regional Conference, Nashville, Tennessee, November 2009.
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“Math and Science Project: The Authentic Science Lab Classroom Project,” Conference of Southeastern
Regional Association of Teacher Educators, Louisville, Kentucky, November 2009. Presented with Dr.
Rebecca McMahan, College of Education, Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, Tennessee.
“Connecting the Dots: Seeing the Whole Picture,” MathFest and 20th Anniversary Celebration, Columbus
Regional Mathematics Collaborative, Columbus State University, Columbus, Georgia, November, 2009.
“Preparing to Engage Students in Problem Solving,” Pre-session to the Sixth Annual TEAM-Math
Partnership Conference, Tuskegee, Alabama, September 2009.
“Problem Solving to Increase Mathematical Content Knowledge,” Conference of the NSF Teacher
Preparation Grant, Pellissippi State Technical Community College, Knoxville, Tennessee, May 2009.
“A Little Problem Solving Along the Way,” 25th Annual Conference on Teaching Mathematics of the Illinois
Council of Teachers of Mathematics/Southern Section, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, February,
2009.
“Math, Science, and Literature, Making the Connection,” Middle Tennessee Mathematics Teachers
Conference, Brentwood Middle School, Brentwood, Tennessee, January 31, 2009.
“Integrating the Process Standards across the Content Standards,” Tennessee Mathematics Teachers
Association, Austin Peay State University, September, 2008.
“Engaging Problems – Preparing to Teach Problem Solving,” Tennessee Mathematics Teachers Association,
Austin Peay State University, September, 2008. Presented with Ammie Whitely, a teacher at West Creek
Middle School, Clarksville, Tennessee.
“The Preparation of Elementary Teachers at Austin Peay State University,” Pre-session to the Fifth Annual
TEAM-Math Partnership Conference, Tuskegee, Alabama, September 2008.
“Problem Solving to Deepen Content Knowledge,” Middle Tennessee Mathematics Teachers Conference,
Shelbyville, Tennessee, February 2008.
“A Little Problem Solving Along the Way,” Conference of Middle Tennessee Mathematics Teachers,
Brentwood, Tennessee, November, 2007.
“Teacher Study Groups: Using Mathematically Rich Problems to Enhance Teaching and Learning in the
Early Grades,” Poster for the Joint Meeting of the Tennessee Mathematics Teachers’ Association and the
Smokey Mountain Mathematics Educators’ Association, Knoxville, Tennessee, September, 2007.
“Multiple Approaches to Pattern Recognition,” a half-day session of the Crossing the Bridge from
Instruction to Assessment Project workshop, Columbus Regional Mathematics Collaborative, Columbus
State University, Columbus, Georgia, June 2007.
“A Little Problem Solving Along the Way,” Spring Conference of the Tennessee Mathematics Association
for Two Year Colleges, Jackson, Tennessee, April, 2007.
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“Problem Solving to Learn Algebra through Patterns,” The 23rd Annual Conference on Teaching
Mathematics of the Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics/Southern Section, Southern Illinois
University at Carbondale, February, 2007.
“Developing Problem Solving Skills through Multiple Representations,” The 22nd Annual Conference on
Teaching Mathematics of the Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics/Southern Section, Southern
Illinois University at Carbondale, February, 2006.
“Using Multiple Representation to Develop Algebraic Thinking and Skills,” The 21st Annual Conference on
Teaching Mathematics of the Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics/Southern Section, Southern
Illinois University at Carbondale, 2006.
“Connecting the Content Standards through Proportional Reasoning Tasks,” The 21st Annual Conference on
Teaching Mathematics of the Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics/Southern Section, Southern
Illinois University at Carbondale, 2005.
“Engaging Students with Mathematically Rich Problems,” Georgia Mathematics Conference, Eatonton,
Georgia, October, 2004.
“Meeting the Standards through Multiple Representations,” Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics,
Southern Section, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, February, 2004.
“Students’ Use of Representations in Solving Mathematically Rich Problems,” National Council of Teachers
of Mathematics Central Regional Conference. Paducah, Kentucky, 2002.
“Representing Mathematics to Reach More Students in High School,” Science and Mathematics Professional
Development Opportunities Conference. University of Georgia (UGA), 2002.
“Two Classrooms: Teachers Exploring the Role of Communication in Early Childhood Mathematics
Education,” Ninth International Congress on Mathematical Education, Tokyo/Makuhari, Japan, 2000.
Research Emphasis and Grant-Funded Research
Emphasis: Mathematics education of traditionally marginalized or underserved populations. Problem
solving.
Mathematics Coordinator Math and Science Project : Authentic Science Lab Classroom Project, a joint
project of the College of Science and the College of Education at APSU, funded by a Congressional
award through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2009, 2009-2011.
Investigator and project director on the following projects supported by grants.
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Momentum: Building Capacity for Change through Connections, funded by the Tennessee First to the
Top Program, 2011-20012. Dr. Lauren Wells, College of Education, Co-Investigator.
Course Revitalization Grant: MATH 1410: Structure of Mathematical Systems I, Funded through
Austin Peay State University RASI program, 2011-2012.
Support, Mentoring, and Resources for Teachers, a joint project of the College of Education, the
Mathematics Department, and Columbus Regional Mathematics Collaborative at Columbus State
University, 2003-2004.
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Momentum, a joint project with the Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics and
Computing at the Georgia Institute of Technology, 2002-2003.
Representing High School Mathematics with Technology, Phases I and II, funded by the Teacher
Quality Improvement Program at UGA, 2001-2004.
Reading, Writing, and Talking about Mathematics in the Early Grades, Phases I and II, funded by the
Teacher Quality Improvement Program at UGA, 2001-2004
Reading, Writing, and Talking about Mathematics in the Middle Grades, Phases I and II, funded by
the Teacher Quality Improvement Program at UGA., 2001-2004
Representing Mathematics to Reach More Students in the Early Grades, Phases I and II, funded by the
Eisenhower Program at UGA, 1999-2001.
Representing Mathematics to Reach More Students in the Middle Grades, Phases I and
II, funded by the Eisenhower Program at UGA, 1999-2001.
Representing Mathematics to Reach More Students in High School, Phases I and II, funded by the
Eisenhower Program at UGA, 1999-2001.
Providing Opportunities with Engaging Resources, Phases I and II, funded by the Eisenhower
Program at UGA, 1998-2000.
Strengthening Algebraic Thinking and Skills in the Middle Grades, Phases II and III, funded by the
Eisenhower Program at UGA, 1998-2000
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