Alessandra Pantano

Alessandra Pantano is a Lecturer with Potential Security of Employment (PSOE) and the Assistant Vice Chair for Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Mathematics at the University of California, Irvine (UCI). She holds a PhD from Princeton University (2004) and an MS from the University of Tor Vergata, Italy (1999). Her research focuses on representation theory, particularly the unitary dual of real reductive groups. She is a leading advocate for active learning and inquiry-based learning (IBL) strategies, and has pioneered outreach initiatives like the UCI Math Circle and MATH CEO, which engage K-12 students in mathematics through culturally responsive practices.

Her educational background includes postdoctoral research at Cornell University and visiting scholar roles at MIT. Teaching awards include the 2014 UCI Outstanding Contribution to Undergraduate Education Award and the 2002 Princeton Engineering Council Excellence in Teaching Award. She has taught a wide range of courses, from introductory calculus to advanced abstract algebra, consistently receiving high student evaluations.

In outreach, Pantano emphasizes collaborative learning and mentorship, particularly for underserved Latinx youth. Programs like MATH CEO pair college mentors with middle/high school students to foster mathematical curiosity. Her work bridges university-community partnerships, aiming to democratize access to STEM education.

• Research Focus: Unitary representations of reductive groups, Atlas of Lie Groups project
• Teaching Philosophy: Active learning, IBL, and equity-centered pedagogy
• Outreach: UCI Math Circle, MATH CEO, and culturally responsive afterschool programs