معرفی
Marla J. Williams serves as a Lecturer in the Department of Mathematics at Christopher Newport University, where she teaches Statistics, Precalculus, Calculus, Linear Algebra, and Topology courses.
Her educational credentials include:
- PhD in Mathematics from University of Nebraska-Lincoln
- MA in Mathematics from University of Nebraska-Lincoln
- BA in Mathematics from Willamette University
Dr. Williams specializes in low-dimensional and geometric topology, with particular expertise in trisections of smooth 4-manifolds, flat surface bundles, and mapping class groups. Her dissertation research developed methods for splitting 4-dimensional topological spaces into three simple pieces, using maps from fundamental groups to construct trisection diagrams. This work represents significant contributions to understanding geometric structures through trisection theory, with applications to surface bundles over surfaces.
Her research presentations span from 2016 through 2025, including invited talks at the AMS Special Session on Geometric and Algebraic Approaches to Manifold Theory (2025), Graduate Online Anything Topology Series (2020), and the 2019 Joint Mathematics Meetings. She has participated in numerous topology workshops at institutions including University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, and Banff International Research Station.
Dr. Williams employs a collaborative teaching philosophy that encourages students to actively engage with mathematical concepts through group work, whether in-person or online. Her academic journey began with undergraduate research at San Diego State University's REU program in 2012, leading to her first publication in Results in Mathematics.
Outside academic pursuits, she enjoys running, baking, birdwatching, board games, and crocheting.
