Karen Graham is a professor of Mathematics Education in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of New Hampshire. She received a B.A. degree in Mathematics from SUNY Cortland, a MAT degree in Mathematics from University of Albany (SUNY) and both M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Mathematics and Mathematics Education, respectively, from the University of New Hampshire (with Joan Ferrini-Mundy serving as dissertation advisor). Karen joined the faculty at UNH in 1987. She served as the inaugural director of the UNH Joan and James Leitzel Center for Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Education from 2002-2012. Prior to joining the faculty at UNH, Karen taught in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo MI and at Pine Plains Central School District in Pine Plains NY. Karen is active in mathematics education research. Her research has primarily focused on the learning and teaching of calculus and mathematics teacher development. She has served as dissertation advisor to thirteen PhD graduates since coming to UNH, and is currently working with two PhD candidates. She has received extensive funding at the state and federal levels for research in mathematics education, curriculum development, and professional development programs for mathematics and science teachers. She is also very active professionally at the state, regional and national levels conducting workshops, giving presentations, sharing research, co-authoring publications, and serving as a consultant. Karen has served as the president of the New Hampshire Teachers of Mathematics and the Association of Teachers of Mathematics in New England. She was elected to serve a three-year term on the Board of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) from 2012-2015. She recently served as the chair of the writing task force for the NCTM publication Catalyzing Change in High School Mathematics: Initiating Critical Conversations.Karen has won several awards for her leadership and commitment to outreach and public service.
Karen’s research interests focus on the teaching and learning of undergraduate mathematics, mainly concepts in pre-calculus and calculus, and mathematics teacher development. She is particularly interested in how prospective teachers develop an understanding of abstract mathematical concepts and the connections between the mathematics they are learning as undergraduates and the mathematics they will be teaching.
- NSF-ADVANCE: UNH UNBIASED: Leadership Development and Policy Change to Promote Institutional Transformation(Co-PI); Faculty Intervention Guide and Decision Tool for Improving the Academic Workplace(Co-PI).
- NSF-NOYCE: Noyce in NH: Building Capacity for a STEM Master Teachers Program(Co-PI).
- NSF-RETE: Research to Inspire Students in Engineering through commUnity Partnerships (RISE UP) (Co-PI).
- Student understanding of calculus and precalculus concepts
- The mathematical knowledge needed for teaching mathematics at various levels
- Curriculum materials for prospective teachers that draw on their specialized knowledge of mathematics for teaching and their general knowledge of content and students
