Jan Cannizzo
Teaching Associate Professor and Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Mathematical Sciences
Charles V. Schaefer, Jr. School of Engineering and Science
Department of Mathematical Sciences
Research
Within mathematics, I am interested in group theory and dynamical systems, including properties of random subgroups in the presence of an invariant measure, finite approximations to dynamical systems, and cellular automata defined over general groups. I conduct research in mathematics education as well. For as long as I have been teaching, I have been interested in the implementation of active learning techniques and educational technology in undergraduate courses, especially calculus courses. In 2017, I co-founded the Stevens Math Circle Initiative, an outreach program through which undergraduates lead math enrichment activities for K-12 students at community partner sites, and I am the PI on an NSF-IUSE grant awarded to research the impact of this work. I am also a member of the Laboratory for Artificial Intelligence in Mathematics Education, launched by the Department of Mathematical Sciences in 2025.
Institutional Service
- Department Strategic Planning Committee Member
- MS Undergraduate Curriculum Committee Chair
- SES Strategic Planning Committee Member
- GAGTA 2022 Local Organizing Committee Member
- MS Undergraduate Curriculum Committee Chair
- SES Undergraduate Curriculum Committee Member
- University Strategic Planning Steering Committee Member
- Faculty Search Committee Member
- Department Chair Search Committee Member
- Administrative Assistant Search Committee Member
- Strategic Plan Input to President Farvardin: Faculty Focus Group Member
- Math Circle Organizing Committee Chair
- Math Olympiad Organizing Committee Member
- STEM Pedagogy Task Force Member
- Undergraduate Curriculum Committee Member
- Math Circle Organizing Committee Chair
- Math Olympiad Organizing Committee Member
- Department Compensation Committee Member
- Math Olympiad Organizing Committee Member
- Undergraduate Curriculum Committee Member
- Math Circle Organizing Committee Chair
- Interview Group for Vice Provost for Academic Innovation and Faculty Affairs Member
- Reimagining Math Education Conference Organizing Committee Member
Professional Service
- Castle Point Learning Systems Consultant
Appointments
Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies, Department of Mathematical Sciences (2021-Present)
Teaching Associate Professor, Department of Mathematical Sciences (2022-Present)
Teaching Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematical Sciences (2015-2022)
Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematical Sciences (2014-2015)
Teaching Associate Professor, Department of Mathematical Sciences (2022-Present)
Teaching Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematical Sciences (2015-2022)
Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematical Sciences (2014-2015)
Honors and Awards
Employee Excellence Award: Through Collaboration, Impact (2025)
Distinguished Teacher-Mentor Award (2023)
SES Education Innovation & Impact Award (2022)
Harvey N. Davis Distinguished Teaching Assistant Professor Award (2017)
Distinguished Teacher-Mentor Award (2023)
SES Education Innovation & Impact Award (2022)
Harvey N. Davis Distinguished Teaching Assistant Professor Award (2017)
Professional Societies
- AMS – American Mathematical Society Member
Grants, Contracts and Funds
NSF-IUSE Grant No. 2236229 (2022)
MAA Dolciani Mathematics Enrichment Grant (2020)
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation NYC Initiative Seed Grant (2018)
MAA Dolciani Mathematics Enrichment Grant (2018)
MAA Dolciani Mathematics Enrichment Grant (2020)
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation NYC Initiative Seed Grant (2018)
MAA Dolciani Mathematics Enrichment Grant (2018)
Selected Publications
J. Cannizzo, A. Nikolaev, and E. L. Atieh, A model for organizing undergraduate-led math circles, Book chapter to appear in International Perspectives on Mathematics Outreach, Information Age Publishing (2025)
J. Cannizzo, A simple, concrete, and effective teaching method suitable for online courses, Paper presented at Fall ASEE Mid-Atlantic Section Meeting (2020)
J. Cannizzo, The boundary action of a sofic random subgroup of the free group, Groups Geom. Dyn. 9 (2015), p. 683-709
J. Cannizzo, On invariant Schreier structures, Enseign. Math. (2) 60 (2014), p. 397-415
J. Cannizzo, A simple, concrete, and effective teaching method suitable for online courses, Paper presented at Fall ASEE Mid-Atlantic Section Meeting (2020)
J. Cannizzo, The boundary action of a sofic random subgroup of the free group, Groups Geom. Dyn. 9 (2015), p. 683-709
J. Cannizzo, On invariant Schreier structures, Enseign. Math. (2) 60 (2014), p. 397-415
Courses
MA 120: Introduction to Calculus
MA 121: Differential Calculus
MA 122: Integral Calculus
MA 123: Series, Vectors, and Multivariable Functions
MA 124: Calculus of Two Variables
MA 125: Vectors and Matrices
MA 188: Seminar in Mathematical Sciences
MA 240: Proofs and Refutations
MA 336: Modern Algebra
MA 461: Special Problems I
MA 462: Special Problems II
MA 464: Seminar in Mathematics
MA 498: Senior Research Project I
MA 499: Senior Research Project II
MA 574: Foundational Mathematics for Data Science
MA 121: Differential Calculus
MA 122: Integral Calculus
MA 123: Series, Vectors, and Multivariable Functions
MA 124: Calculus of Two Variables
MA 125: Vectors and Matrices
MA 188: Seminar in Mathematical Sciences
MA 240: Proofs and Refutations
MA 336: Modern Algebra
MA 461: Special Problems I
MA 462: Special Problems II
MA 464: Seminar in Mathematics
MA 498: Senior Research Project I
MA 499: Senior Research Project II
MA 574: Foundational Mathematics for Data Science