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About Ryan Andrew Nivens


Ryan A. Nivens is a Professor of Mathematics Education and is extensively involved in undergraduate and graduate STEM education. He began as an eighth grade mathematics teacher and then moved to teaching high school. During this time, he became a consultant for the State of Missouri Mathematics Academy where he worked with some of the best mathematics teachers in the world! After that, he started his new career as a professor at East Tennessee State University where he is an instructor in Eastman’s Scholar MathElites Program. Additionally, he has acquired funding for many STEM grants to help support teachers and their students. He has twice served as president of the Upper East Tennessee Council of Teachers of Mathematics and has published several articles on innovative ways to teach mathematics. He edits the nationally award winning Upper East TN Council of Teachers of Mathematics Newsletter where he shares the writings of over 600 northeast Tennessee mathematics teachers. He holds a B.S. in mathematics and minor in computer science from Evangel College, an M.Ed in education from Drury University, and a Ph.D in mathematics education from the University of Missouri – Columbia. Ryan and his wife of over 20 years enjoy living with their seven children in the Appalachian Mountains where the trees are green, the trails are long, and the water is pure. They enjoy trips to the beach, Dollywood, and parks. You can find Ryan splitting firewood, and reading the word of God.
 

Positions

Present Professor, East Tennessee State University Center for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Education
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Present Professor, East Tennessee State University Department of Curriculum and Instruction
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Curriculum Vitae




Grants

2017 - 2018 New Faculty Learning Community
INtopFORM Faculty Fellowship
Role: Principal Investigator
Colleague(s): Johnson
$2,000
2017 Integrating Computing into the High School Mathematics Curriculum via Science and Engineering Data Sets
Tennessee Higher Education
Improving Teacher Quality Grant
Role: Principal Investigator
Colleague(s): Hendrickson
$75,000
2016 - 2017 Increasing Preschoolers Logical Sequencing Skills
East Tennessee State University Research Development Committee
Major Grant
Role: Principal Investigator
Colleague(s): Geiken
$10,000
2016 - 2017 Innovative Educator Workshop: Incorporating Open Source Computing into the Teaching of High School Mathematics
Battelle Education
Tennessee STEM Innovation Network Grant
Role: Principal Investigator
Colleague(s): Godbole
$35,000
2015 Middle School Mathematics
Tennessee Higher Education Commission
Improving Teacher Quality Grant
Role: Principal Investigator
Colleague(s): Godbole
$75,000
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Professional Service and Affiliations

2018 - Present Journal Referee, Scientometrics
2013 - Present Journal Referee, NCSM Journal of Mathematics Education Leadership
2012 - Present Journal Referee, School Science and Mathematics
2010 - Present Journal Referee, Tennessee Association of Middle Schools Journal
2008 - Present Member, Tennessee Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators
2008 - Present Member, Tennessee Mathematics Teachers Association
2008 - Present Member, Upper East Tennessee Council of Teachers of Mathematics
2008 - Present Editor of Newsletter, Upper East Tennessee Council of Teachers of Mathematics
2005 - Present Journal Referee, Mathematics Teacher
2005 - Present Journal Referee, Mathematics Teacher in the Middle School
2019 - 2022 Representative, Membership and Affiliate Relations Committee (MARC) Southern 2 Region
2018 - 2020 Program Committee, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Annual Conference
2018 - 2020 Member, Program Committee of the Centennial Annual Conference in Chicago in Spring 2020
2004 - 2019 Member, Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators
2004 - 2019 Member, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
2013 Journal Referee, The Mathematics Teacher Educator
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Honors and Awards

  • 2006 - Missouri Scholars Academy Teacher Appreciation Award
  • 2004-2008 - Center for the Study of Mathematics Curriculum (CSMC) Fellow
  • 2006-2007 - University of Missouri Lois Knowles Scholarship
  • 2005-2006 - University of Missouri Lois Knowles Scholarship
  • 2006 - University of Missouri Graduate Student Association Travel Grant
  • 2008 - Nominee, University of Missouri College of Education Instructor of the Year
  • 2008 - University of Missouri Graduate Student Association Superior Graduate Student Achievement Award
  • 2009-2012 - Interim Member for the Graduate Faculty of ETSU
  • 2012-2017 - Member of the Graduate Faculty of ETSU
  • 2016 - Nominee, ETSU College of Education Teaching Award
  • 2017 - Nominee, ETSU College of Education Research Award
  • 2017 - Nominee, ETSU College of Education Teach Award
  • 2017 - Featured Teacher, Fall 2017 ETSU Center for Teaching Excellence
  • 2018 - Publication Award, NCTM Membership and Affiliate Relations Committee for editorial work on the UETCTM Newsletter
  • 2018 - Collaboration Award, ETSU College of Education
  • 2018 - Excellence in Presentation Award, International Conference on Learning and Administration in Higher Education Conference
  • 2019 - Outstanding Service Award, ETSU Clemmer College
  • 2019 - Nomination, ETSU Service Award
  • 2020 - Nomination, ETSU Service Award

Courses

  • SCED 5620 - Bridging STEM in Education & Business
  • SCED 3310 - STEM Content for Elementary Teachers
  • CUAI 5116 - Math Methods for K-6
  • MATH 6956 - Special Topics in High School Math
  • MATH 5025 - Special Topics Course for Middle School Mathematics Teachers
  • CUAI 3430 - Math Methods, K-8
  • CUAI 4517/5517 - Early Elementary Math Methods, PK-4
  • CUAI 4310 - Residency 1: Mathematics Methods, K-6

Education

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2009 PhD, University of Missouri Columbia ‐ Curriculum & Instruction - Mathematics Education
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2003 MS Ed., Drury University ‐ Secondary Mathematics
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1997 BS, Evangel University ‐ Mathematics
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Contact Information


PO Box 70684
Johnson City, Tennessee 37614

Office: Warf-Pickel Hall 404
Phone: 423-439-7529

Email:



Book Chapters (2)

Refereed Papers (16)

Refereed Presentations (36)