Alisa DeStefano

Professor Alisa DeStefano serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at College of the Holy Cross. Her academic career spans over three decades, including prior appointments as Assistant Professor at Holy Cross (1992-1999), Visiting Professor at Boston University (1994-1995), and Lecturer at Dartmouth College (1989-1992).

Her educational background includes:

• Ph.D. in Mathematics, Dartmouth College (1992)
• A.M. in Mathematics, Dartmouth College (1989)
• B.S. in Mathematics (summa cum laude), Northeastern University (1987)

DeStefano's research centers on Control Theory, specializing in Universal and Discrete Observability of Dynamical Systems. Her work rigorously examines state estimation for wave and heat equations on bounded domains and compact homogeneous spaces, while bridging connections to topological dynamics and abstract harmonic analysis. This interdisciplinary approach integrates techniques from partial differential equations, global analysis, and mathematical physics to solve fundamental problems in system observability.

Her publication trajectory (1990-2001) reveals consistent contributions to observability theory, evolving from discrete wave equation analysis to sophisticated constructions of universally observable torus flows and topological dynamics equivalences. Key venues include SIAM journals, IEEE conferences, and Birkhäuser's Progress in Systems and Control Theory series.

Notable recognitions include:

• Summer Faculty Fellowship (awarded 1994, 1997, 1998)
• Association for Women in Mathematics Travel Grant (1993, 1998)
• NSF ILI-IG Grant (1993)

She maintains active professional engagement through the Mathematical Association of America, American Mathematical Society, and Association for Women in Mathematics. Her teaching portfolio spans Real and Abstract Analysis, Fourier Analysis, differential equations, and chaos theory, reflecting her dual expertise in pure and applied mathematics. While specific current grant details aren't provided in the source material, her historical funding record demonstrates sustained research productivity in mathematical control theory.