About
Maria Terrell is a retired Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mathematics at Cornell University, affiliated with the College of Arts and Sciences. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia (1978). Her research focuses on geometry, particularly tensegrity structures and the historical development of geometrical optics and linear perspective. She is also deeply involved in mathematics education, co-leading the GoodQuestions project to enhance calculus instruction through structured classroom discussions. Her work emphasizes improving undergraduate pedagogy and active learning strategies.
Key contributions include co-authoring Calculus With Applications (2014) and publishing on educational methodologies in journals like PRIMUS and the American Mathematical Monthly. Terrell has collaborated with researchers like Robert Connelly and her spouse, R. Terrell, on projects blending geometry with visual perception and structural mechanics.
Email: mst1@cornell.edu
