معرفی
Vilma M. Mesa is a Professor at the Marsal Family School of Education and holds a courtesy appointment in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Michigan’s College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. She is also a Faculty Associate at the Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education. Her research focuses on undergraduate mathematics education, particularly in community colleges and inquiry-based learning environments, analyzing how resources influence teaching expertise and student success in STEM fields.
She earned a B.S. in Computer Sciences and a B.S. in Mathematics from the University of Los Andes in Bogotá, Colombia, followed by a Master of Arts and Ph.D. in Mathematics Education from the University of Georgia. Prior to academia, Mesa worked as a systems programmer for Colombia’s Ministry of Finances and a construction/hospitality firm, and advised on computing systems in Colombia.
Mesa’s research interests include the interaction between instructors, students, and instructional materials; textbook analysis; and the impact of teaching practices on student retention in STEM. She has contributed to projects such as the MAA National Study of College Calculus and the Characteristics of Successful Programs in College Calculus, and co-authored pre-calculus and statistics textbooks for university students.
Her work has been recognized with the 2022 Louise May Award from the Association of Women in Mathematics and the 2022 Outstanding Undergraduate Research Opportunity Mentor Award from the University of Michigan. She has served as Associate Editor for the Journal for Research in Mathematics Education and currently edits Educational Studies in Mathematics.
Mesa has secured over $6M in federal grants, including the NSF CAREER Award (2008–2013) and the PROTEUS project (2024–2027). Her RTMUS Lab investigates teaching and learning in undergraduate mathematics, with ongoing projects on open textbooks, quality instruction measures, and barriers to calculus success in community colleges. She collaborates widely with institutions like the American Institute of Mathematics and tribal colleges to advance culturally sustaining mathematics education.
Her teaching includes graduate courses on educational research and assessment, as well as introductory calculus programs at the University of Michigan.
