James A. M. Alvarez

Dr. James A. M. Alvarez is a Professor of Mathematics and Distinguished Teaching Professor at the University of Texas at Arlington, serving as Graduate Director of the Master of Arts in Mathematics Program for secondary teachers. He holds a B.S. in Mathematics and Physics from Texas A&M University–Commerce and a Ph.D. in Mathematics from The University of Texas at Austin. His research focuses on mathematics education, including teacher preparation, curriculum development, and improving access to STEM for underserved populations.

Dr. Alvarez has contributed to Texas mathematics standards (TEKS) and national initiatives like the College Board’s AP Calculus and Achieve’s Secondary Mathematics Benchmarks. He has received numerous awards, including the Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award and multiple Provost’s Research Excellence Awards. His grants total over $9M, supporting projects to enhance teacher content knowledge and student retention in STEM.

His leadership roles include Vice-President of the Conference for the Advancement of Mathematics Teaching, MAA Board of Governors member, and participation in national working groups on STEM teacher education. Key research interests include mathematical problem solving, technology integration, and fostering equity in mathematics education.

Recent publications emphasize connecting advanced mathematics to secondary teaching, task design for teacher preparation, and promoting diversity in STEM. His service spans university committees, NSF program leadership, and editorial roles for journals like PRIMUS and MAA publications.