We welcome proposals from college and university faculty at accredited U.S. institutions (including U.S. Territories), accredited schools or school districts, and nonprofit organizations. Applicants from higher education institutions are strongly encouraged to demonstrate established partnerships with middle school mathematics educators (e.g., letter of collaboration that reflects shared decision making and goals; faculty/teacher project co-directors; co-design of professional development activities).

Funding Details

Initial Funding: MAA expects to award 8 initial grants of up to $12,000 for a 12-month period. 

Eligibility for Initial Funding: Applications will be accepted from college and university faculty at accredited U.S. institutions (including U.S. Territories), accredited schools or school districts, and nonprofit organizations. Applicants from higher education institutions are strongly encouraged to demonstrate established partnerships with middle school mathematics educators (e.g., letter of collaboration that reflects shared decision making and goals; faculty/teacher project co-directors; co-design of professional development activities). 

Eligibility for a two-year Expansion Grant: During the initial grant period, initial funding recipients will have the opportunity to apply for a 2-year expansion grant of up to $40,000. MAA expects to award 4-5 expansion grants to a subset of the initially funded projects. 

Indirect costs of up to 10% of direct costs are allowable.

Timeline

This MAA-Neff Middle School Professional Development Initiative will follow the approximate timeline below.

Phase 1: Initial Funding

November 21, 2025: Application period opens.

December 9, 2025: Informational Webinar; View recording here and slides here.

January-February 2026: Virtual Office Hours for applicant support

• January 21 from 2:30-3:30 pm ET
• February 4 from 1:30-3:30 pm ET
• February 19 from 1:30-3:00 pm ET

March 3, 2026: Application period closes at 11:59 pm ET

March 31, 2026: Notifications of awards

May 2026-June 2027: Initial funding period for project activities

Phase 2: Expansion Grants for Initial Grantees

December 4, 2026: Expansion Grant application period opens for initial grantees

March 8, 2027: Applications for expansion grants due at 11:59 pm ET

April 2027: Notifications of expansion grant awards

May 2027-June 2029: Expansion grant project activities

Restrictions

Funding for the program is limited, and the MAA will make every attempt to support a broad range of projects from various geographic locations. If any department, district, or nonprofit organization is interested in submitting more than one proposal, the proposals must support different programs and must have different personnel.

Contact Us

For technical information regarding submission of your proposal, please contact the MAA Programs Staff at programs@maa.org. For questions regarding proposed projects or proposal development, please contact the Program Director, Emilie Hancock at Emilie.Hancock@cwu.edu.

Saturday, August 9
MAA MathFest 2025

Abstract: In 1991 the Mathematical Association of America instituted Awards for Distinguished College or University Teaching of Mathematics to honor college or university teachers who have been widely recognized as extraordinarily successful and whose teaching effectiveness has been shown to have had influence beyond their own institutions. In 1993 the MAA Board of Governors renamed the award to honor Deborah and Franklin Tepper Haimo. Each year at most three college or university teachers are honored with this award. Recipients of the Haimo Award receive $1,000 and a certificate of recognition; recipients must be members of the Association (teaching in the U.S. or Canada). At least one of the Award recipients must be a current Section nominee. The Section nominee may be the current recipient of the Section Award for Distinguished Teaching or a previous recipient of a Section Award for Distinguished Teaching from any Section. At most one of the Award recipients may be other than a current or past recipient of a Section Award for Distinguished Teaching.

Winners of the Deborah and Franklin Tepper Haimo Awards for Distinguished College or University Teaching will give presentations on the secrets of their success. This is moderated by MAA President Hortensia Soto, Colorado State University.

Hands-On, Hearts-In: Teaching Mathematics with Creativity and Care
Angie Hodge-Zickerman, Northern Arizona University 

What happens when we center humanity, creativity, and care in the mathematics classroom? In this talk, Dr. Angie Hodge-Zickerman shares her journey of developing engaging, hands-on learning experiences, such as TACTivities, that invite students to explore mathematics with curiosity and confidence. Grounded in active and empowered learning, her approach blends structure and play to make abstract concepts tangible. Through stories from college classrooms, professional development programs, and Math Teachers’ Circles, she illustrates how tactile tools and intentional teaching practices can foster both mathematical understanding and community. This talk celebrates the power of teaching mathematics with both our hands and our hearts.

How Do You Listen? The Messages We Send through the Way We Listen
Yvonne Lai, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

When we listen, we may listen to judge, for what is right or wrong. Or we can listen to understand, to know for what purpose. Or perhaps we listen to create, for the possibilities of what we can create together. In this talk, Yvonne Lai will discuss modes of listening and the messages they send about who belongs in the mathematical community, and what mathematics and collaboration can be. This talk will begin in the classroom, and end in the broader work we do in the mathematical sciences.

Mathematics Rooted in Love and Care for the ʻĀina
Monique Chyba, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

Mathematics is too often taught in isolation, abstractly and disconnected from land, culture, and students’ lived experiences. This presentation explores the design and impact of place-based mathematics courses that realign mathematical learning with real-world, local issues and meaningful community engagement. By embedding math in challenges like environmental restoration, and public health, students see that math is not just numbers on a page but also a tool for action, reflection, and connection. Both mathematics and real life can be messy, but they’re also deeply beautiful and absolutely worth the effort.

Friday, August 8
MAA MathFest 2025

Abstract: Turn your gatherings into unforgettable experiences with mathematically entertaining tricks! Join Tim Chartier for an interactive and engaging session filled with math-based antics and puzzles. Perfect for any occasion, you’ll learn clever tricks and crowd-pleasing skills that bring the magic of mathematics to life. Whether you’re mingling at a school or networking at a conference, these entertaining ideas will make you the life of the party. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to add a dash of math to your social repertoire!

Biography: Dr. Tim Chartier is the Joseph R. Morton Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science at Davidson College who specializes in data analytics. He consults with ESPN, The New York Times, the US Olympic Committee and professional teams in the NBA, MLB, NFL and NASCAR. Beyond authoring books such as Get in the Game: An Interactive Introduction to Sports Analytics and Nonstandard Notebook: Mathematically Ruled Pages for Unruly Thoughts, Tim has worked on Google and Pixar educational initiatives. Tim's authorship, research, and scholarship have been recognized with national leadership positions in the MAA and multiple awards including an Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship, The MAA SE Distinguished Teaching Award and the MAA’s Euler Book Award. Tim is also a performing artist having trained in mime at Le Centre du Silence mime school and Dell’Arte School of International Physical Theater. He also studied in master classes with Marcel Marceau. Along with his wife Tanya, Tim has performed a mime presentation that introduces mathematical ideas throughout the United States and in such countries as Switzerland, France, Panama, Holland, Korea and Japan.

Thursday, August 7
MAA MathFest 2025

Abstract: A few years ago, I received an email from a friend’s mom with a question about a problem she was having with her quilting circle: is it possible to find a way to pass quilts among five people so that each person works on each quilt, and no person passes to the same person twice? The pursuit of an answer led to row-complete Latin squares. Latin squares are combinatorial objects with a thousand-year history and modern applications in experimental design, error correcting codes, and entertainment, in the form of Sudoku. The journey doesn’t stop there, though; this talk will describe how one simple problem connects quilting, taste testing, combinatorics, group theory, graph theory, number theory, music, Tom and Jerry, and the power/limits of modern computing. We will begin with a quilt and conclude with some music and a number of related open problems.

Biography: Beth Malmskog is an associate professor in the department of Mathematics and Computer Science at Colorado College. She studied mathematics as an undergraduate at the University of Wyoming and earned her PhD at Colorado State University. Beth’s research crosses and combines perspectives, including arithmetic geometry, error-correcting codes, Latin squares, graph theory, fair redistricting, and cryptography. She is dedicated to building community and expanding opportunity in and through mathematics, via teaching, research collaboration, and outreach. She and Kathryn Haymaker won the Carl B. Allendorfer award in 2020 for their paper “What (Quilting) Circles Can Be Squared?”. Beth’s research has earned an NSA Young Investigator grant and an NSF Launching Early Academic Pathways (LEAPS) award. 

Abstract: In 1925, Elbert Frank Cox became the first Black person in the world to earn a Ph.D. in mathematics, paving the way for future generations. His journey was defined by resilience and an unwavering commitment to knowledge despite the barriers of segregation. This talk honors his legacy and explores how his impact continues to inspire the mathematical community a century later.

Biography: Dr. Talitha Washington serves as the Executive Director of the Center for Applied Data Science & Analytics, the Sean McCleese Endowed Chair in Computer Science, Race, and Social Justice, and a Professor of Mathematics at Howard University. She is also the Past-President of the Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM) and previously served as a Program Director at the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). Dr. Washington's research spans applied mathematics, dynamical systems, nonstandard finite difference schemes, data science, artificial intelligence, and education. She completed her undergraduate studies in mathematics at Spelman College, studied abroad at the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara in Mexico, and earned her master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Connecticut, which also awarded her an honorary doctorate in science. She is a Fellow of the AWM, the American Mathematical Society (AMS), and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

Abstract: My talk will discuss some beautiful objects at the intersection of combinatorics, geometry, and algebra called "Chow rings of toric varieties”. I will discuss three ways of thinking about them: they can be approached using algebra, polyhedral geometry, or numerical analysis. I will then explain how combinatorialists have recently used these rings to prove several conjectures from the 1970s and 80s about the colorings of a map.

My talk will not assume that you know anything about these objects. I will talk about the work of many people, including my joint work with Carly Klivans, Graham Denham, and June Huh.

Biography: Federico Ardila-Mantilla is a Colombian-American mathematician and musician who works in combinatorics and geometry. He was an ICM 2022 speaker and has received the NSF CAREER Award for research, the MAA National Haimo Award for teaching, and the AMS "Mathematics Programs that Make a Difference" Award for service. He serves as Professor at San Francisco State University and founder of the SFSU-Colombia Combinatorics Initiative, and co-directed the MSRI-UP REU program for students from minoritized groups, and has mentored more than 50 thesis students. Federico is always searching for ways to grow and foster an increasingly diverse, equitable, welcoming, and joyful community of mathematicians that empowers and serves the needs of all.

Wednesday, August 6
MAA MathFest 2025

Abstract: A common phrase used in Spanish is de qué sirve. It literally translates to, “Of what does it serve?” The phrase is also used to ask or question such as: what is the point, what is the use, what difference does it make, what is it used for, how does it help, etc. Without knowing, this phrase has been ingrained in my professional life with teaching, conducting research, and engaging in service. In this presentation, I want to discuss de qué sirve to be a member of the MAA. As part of this (hopefully engaging) conversation, I will share how the MAA nos sirve in various ways.

Biography: Hortensia (Tensia) Soto is a Professor and Graduate Director in the Department of Mathematics at Colorado State University. Her research centers on the teaching and learning of K-16 mathematics where she adopts an embodied cognition perspective. Hortensia has mentored young women and promoted mathematics via summer outreach programs and frequently facilitates professional development for K-16 teachers. Tensia is a working member of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) where she has served as the Associate Treasurer, the Associate Secretary, as an editor of the MAA Instructional Practices Guide, and MAA President. She is a proud recipient of the MAA Deborah and Franklin Tepper Haimo Award for Distinguished College or University Teaching of Mathematics. In her spare time, Hortensia enjoys hiking, snowshoeing, practicing yoga, meditating, and spending time with her son Miguel.

Saturday, August 9
MAA MathFest 2025

Abstract: For a wide variety of problems in both pure and applied mathematics, the interplay between linear algebra and combinatorics can be key to finding solutions to interesting problems, and moreover, may present opportunities for unexpected discovery and insight. This talk will explore some of my favorite examples of this interplay, where combinatorial approaches to matrix functions, identities, and/or groups are invoked to help illuminate problems varying from lattice path enumeration to finding optimal strategies for integer choice games.

Biography
Dr. Naiomi Cameron is a Professor of Mathematics at Spelman College in Atlanta, GA where she began as an Associate Professor in 2019 and became Chair of Mathematics in 2022. She earned both a B.S. and Ph.D. in Mathematics from Howard University. Dr. Cameron’s research interests are mainly focused in enumerative and algebraic combinatorics where she seeks to use combinatorial insights to illuminate algebraic structure. Before joining Spelman, she served as Associate Dean for Faculty Development from 2017 to 2019 at Lewis & Clark College, where she was on the faculty for thirteen years. She has served on numerous committees and boards for national organizations, including the National Association of Mathematicians, the Mathematical Association of America and the American Mathematical Society. From 2019 to 2022, she served as Vice President and Chair of the Program Committee for the National Association of Mathematicians.

Thursday, August 7
MAA MathFest 2025

Abstract: Malaria remains a major global health challenge, driven by the complex interactions between parasites, their human and mosquito hosts, and the environments they inhabit. Since the pioneering work of Sir Ronald Ross and George Macdonald in the early to mid-20th century, mathematical modeling has provided invaluable insights into malaria transmission, from within-host parasite dynamics to population-level epidemiology. More recently, research has focused on how these scales interact, shaping transmission patterns and informing control strategies.

In this talk, I will introduce an individual-based model that integrates within-mosquito and within-human parasite dynamics with population-level transmission. This model also tracks the genetic signatures of parasites, offering insights into how genetic diversity emerges, spreads, and interacts with human immunity and antimalarial treatment. By bridging multiple scales, this approach aims to deepen our understanding of malaria transmission and inform more effective intervention strategies.

Biography: Dr. Olivia (Prosper) Feldman is an Associate Professor of Mathematics whose research sits at the intersection of mathematics and biology, with a particular focus on infectious disease modeling. She earned her Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Florida in 2012, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at Dartmouth College and an assistant professorship at the University of Kentucky. Currently at the University of Tennessee, Dr. Feldman has received numerous accolades, including an NSF CAREER award, the Intercollegiate Biomathematics Alliance Excellence in Research award, and the university’s Professional Promise in Research & Creative Achievement award.

Her research explores the complex dynamics of infectious diseases, using mathematical modeling to understand how heterogeneities influence disease spread and control measures. Her work spans multiple scales, from within-host parasite dynamics to population-level transmission, with applications in vector-borne diseases such as malaria. Recent projects investigate the role of economics in disease transmission, the spread of drug-resistant pathogens, the evolution of parasite diversity within vectors, and the impact of immunity on disease prevalence. Dr. Feldman is also advancing methodologies to enhance the identifiability of epidemiological models, strengthening their predictive power for public health interventions. Through her interdisciplinary approach, Dr. Feldman continues to advance mathematical epidemiology, providing critical insights into disease dynamics and informing strategies for disease control.

Saturday, August 9
MAA MathFest 2025

Abstract: You may have seen news stories about people who seem to be strategically and systematically buying up lottery scratch-off tickets. What might they have been up to? This talk is about the answer proposed by a reporter, which defies the intuition we learn in school. With a little calculus, we can analyze the idea and see how it might play out in reality.

Biography: Skip Garibaldi is a mathematician who has been writing scholarly articles about the lottery for 15 years. His lottery work has led to changes in state policy, law enforcement investigations, TV interviews, and a video for Wired. Some mathematicians will know him better for his work on algebraic groups. Skip is the director of the IDA Center for Communications Research in La Jolla, California. Previously, he was associate director of the Institute for Pure & Applied Mathematics at UCLA and Winship Distinguish Research Professor at Emory University. He is a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society and has received the Lester R. Ford Award and the Air Force Commander’s Public Service Award. He grew up just down the road from MathFest, in neighboring Solano County. He sometimes buys lottery tickets.