What We Do

MAA Press published three books in 2023. Two books appeared in the Classroom Resource Materials series; both are wonderful examples of introducing historical sources into teaching mathematics. As Abel said: “…if one wants to progress in mathematics, one should study the masters…”!

The first book is a number theory course based on the writings of Sophie Germain, providing an engaging textbook for an inquiry-based course. The second, arising from the NSF-funded TRIUMPHs (Transforming Instruction in Undergraduate Mathematics via Primary Historical Sources) project, consists of a collection of classroom modules that use primary source materials to study concepts in analysis and topology. On the expository side, we published a delightful Dolciani volume on the surprising properties of polygons with five or more sides.

Many MAA members have volunteered to serve on our editorial boards: In 2023, 84 individuals served on a board for one of the eight MAA book series. These board members carefully read and appraise each book submitted for consideration. Their goal is to produce the best books possible for you, the MAA members, and the broader mathematics community. As more books are published under the MAA Press imprint, you will continue to see the fruits of their labor over the coming months.

As a final note, I would be remiss not to acknowledge the hard work of Stephen Kennedy, who preceded me in the role of MAA Acquisition Editor and retired from the role at the end of 2022. Steve’s tireless efforts over many years brought several authors into the MAA fold and remarkable books into mathematical literature. I am sure we all wish him well in his retirement.

‍Find all the MAA Press books here.

MAA Reviews is MAA’s website for reviews of books in mathematics, ranging from popular books on mathematics for the general reader to textbooks and research monographs. There are over 13,000 reviews in our database, and new reviews are constantly being added. The MAA Reviews editorial board also maintains the Basic Library List of books recommended for purchase by college libraries. Our reviews are written and edited by volunteers. Please contact the editor, Brian Borchers, if you're interested in helping as a reviewer or associate editor.

In 2023, Mathematics Magazine published 68 articles from 19 countries. Our Problems/Solutions section attracted contributions from an additional 11 countries. These numbers have increased relative to the already strong numbers from last year.

Our articles are drawn from all areas of pure and applied mathematics, and they span topics ranging from cutting-edge research to problems drawn from recreational games and puzzles. We also continued publishing several double and extended issues to work through our backlog of accepted articles. The magazine continues attracting many quality submissions, leading to a backlog.

In 2024, we look forward to ensuring a smooth transition to our new Editor, Gordon Williams of the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. We are confident he will continue raising the magazine to new heights.

In 2023, The College Mathematics Journal received 238 submissions from 50 countries. Editors-Elect from 11 MAA Sections and 113 referees provided insightful feedback on both the mathematical content and the quality of exposition, a hallmark of CMJ, of these submissions. Over 53 articles, Classroom Capsules, and 7 Proofs Without Words were published. In addition, progress has begun on moving manuscripts in the CMJ manuscript queue toward publication.

During my tenure as editor of The College Mathematics Journal, our editorial office processed 1,390 submissions with the help of 535 reviewers. Submissions came in from 81 countries, and articles from 29 countries were published. We published 240 articles, classroom capsules, and Proofs Without Words in 25 issues of the CMJ. In 2019 there were 43,061 article downloads, which increased to 67,473 in 2023, my last year as editor.

Scatterplot: The MAA Journal of Data Science, moved steadily from an idea to a reality in 2023. Perhaps the most important sign of progress was establishing our website, hosted by Taylor & Francis. To drive traffic to this site and to encourage submissions, editor Rick Cleary (Babson College) wrote promotional pieces for MAA FOCUS and spoke about the journal at national and regional meetings. MAA staff, particularly Carol Baxter, Bonnie Ponce, and Bev Ruedi, have been instrumental in encouraging this outreach.

The journal is now accepting content on the website and will post a first issue early in 2024. We are working to include video content, especially interviews with professionals in the data science community, to give Scatterplot a modern feel. In addition to these forward-facing activities, much work has gone on behind the scenes to make the journal operational. The editorial system for reviewing content is up and running, and editorial board members are taking on specific tasks for various parts of the publishing process.

The year 2023 was an eventful one for MAA FOCUS. The year began on a low note, with several letters to the editor expressing concern about a piece we published in 2022 that was written by an incarcerated individual. Following the guidance of the FOCUS editorial board (especially the President of the MAA, Hortensia Soto, and deputy editor Matthew Pons), we responded to the feedback thoughtfully, eventually diffusing the situation. With the suggestions and support of the editorial board, we also addressed the controversy over the choice of Tampa as the location for MAA MathFest 2023 within the pages of MAA FOCUS. We think this acknowledgment helped people with concerns feel heard by the MAA.

Beyond engaging in difficult conversations, we pursued exciting, creative ideas from the editorial board. We notably began a Math+ series to showcase connections between mathematics and the world beyond math. Our first themed issue appeared in Oct/Nov 2023 with a spread on Math+Theater that featured a short play written for FOCUS by Steve Abbott as well as several fascinating interviews with notable women playwrights and performers and an article about how to use playwriting and performing as a teaching tool in a math education course. We are continuing to feature Math+ themes in every other issue of FOCUS with Math+Medicine in Feb/Mar 2024 and planned themes Math+Democracy in June/July 2024, Math+Play in Oct/Nov 2024, and Math+Travel in Feb/Mar 2025.

For the last several years, having every other issue themed with one of the MAA values has been a feature. We tried to keep this structure, interspersing values themes with Math+ ones, but it became too challenging to include articles—especially time-sensitive ones—that did not fit into a planned theme. So, we decided to let go of intentional values-themed issues in favor of Math+ ones. Instead, value-based themes will emerge organically, and we will highlight the MAA values that invariably appear in each issue through the “From the Editor” column.

During the 2023 calendar year, Math Horizons published 40 articles, interviews, puzzles, book reviews, and editorials in its four issues. We received 85 new submissions. The Playground Problems section transitioned from editor Glen Whitney to new editor Jeremiah Bartz (University of North Dakota) and has continued to garner interest from problem-solvers worldwide, with many student solvers and problem posers.

The February issue featured only magic-themed articles, and the November issue highlighted a survey article about the monotile—the biggest math news of the year—from one of its discoverers and numerous undergraduate authors. Both the April and September issues had articles downloaded over 10,000 times from Taylor and Francis. We included interviews with Matthew Baker, Emily Riehl, Dan Look, six recent college graduates, and a piece about Numberphile. 

Finally, the year ended with the selection of Stuart Boersma (Central Washington University) as the next magazine editor.

Convergence—where history, mathematics, and teaching meet!—is the MAA’s open-access, refereed journal for using the history of mathematics in teaching mathematics.

Our Classroom Resources Index shows that our resources are designed for the full range of courses in the mathematics curriculum for grades 8–16. Some materials offer a quick taste of historical information, such as our “Our This Day” and “Quotations” features; others, including the series of mini-Primary Source Projects, developed via the NSF grant for Transforming Instruction in Undergraduate Mathematics via Primary Historical Sources (TRIUMPHS), provide fully-developed lessons that can be implemented over multiple class periods. Still, other articles suggest topics and techniques that instructors can mold according to their pedagogical approaches.

In 2023, we added 24 articles and 69 new images of rare mathematical books and objects that appear within our vast collection of “Mathematical Treasures.” Highlights include:

• Commentary from expert historians Bill Dunham and Peggy Aldrich Kidwell on a new series of classic reprints from NCTM’s journal, Mathematics Teacher, “Historically Speaking,” edited by associate editor Betty Mayfield.
• Our third Spanish translation, “Ciclos de Tiempo Maya,” was prepared by associate editor Ximena Catepillán.
• “Things Certain and Uncertain,” an account of Euler’s deathbed work on a problem of hot air balloon flight by Michael Saclolo and former associate editor Erik Tou, accompanied by a classroom capsule for differential equations for physics students.
• Practical suggestions for incorporating primary sources into your mathematics teaching from Jennifer Clinkenbeard and associate editor Adam Parker.
• Installments 4-15 of the popular “Quotations in Context” series brought to readers by former associate editor Michael Molinsky.

We also facilitated panels and entertaining tours of Convergence’s extensive and varied classroom materials at MathFest, the Spring Missouri Section Meeting, and FUNDAPROMAT’s monthly webinar.

We are always glad to talk to groups through the MAA’s Editor Lectures Program or other virtual and in-person venues. And, of course, our homepage is available 24/7/365 to connect you with all the resources listed above and more!

In my second year as editor of American Mathematical Monthly in 2023, the journal received 983 submissions. The Board drew from their diverse life experiences and mathematical expertise to evaluate submissions from authors in 81 countries. This process relied on assessing those ideas’ mathematical content and expository presentation.

Scholars in every corner of the world weighed in on submissions via careful referee reports of manuscripts. These reviews assisted the Board in their decision-making process and helped authors shape submissions into better papers. By the time a manuscript is printed on the pages of the journal, at least five colleagues have contributed to advancing the paper on the editorial side.

The submission, review, and editorial process of producing the monthly content continue to extend the journal's reach precisely as the mathematical community expands to include an increasing number of colleagues.

Looking more broadly, the work of the Monthly underscores the increasingly important roles of open access and artificial intelligence in publishing the journal.

In 2023, Math Values averaged ten posts per month, with a total of 93,000 visits to the site (78,000 unique visitors). While 2022 was a significant growth year regarding blog streams and posts, in 2023, Math Values settled into a stable identity. Math Values added one new stream in 2023: Still Learning from My Mistakes, edited by Lew Ludwig.

Of the 120 posts, there were 148 authors (some repeated). Of those 148 authors, at least 48 (32.4%) were from an underrepresented group (BIPOC/Disabled/LGBTQ), 77 (52.0%) were female, and 18 (12.2%) were students.