Rate My Professor Alex Smith

Alex Smith is Professor Emeritus of Mathematics at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, where he served from 1990 to 2025. He earned a Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of California, Berkeley. Smith has held prominent leadership positions, including Chair of the Mathematics Department since 2007, Chair of the Computer Science Department, and Academic Director of the Master of Science in Data Science program. His office is in Phillips Science Hall 139, with phone 715-836-3673. As Co-Chair of the Math Steering Committee for the Wisconsin Math Initiative since November 2021, he represents UW-Eau Claire in statewide efforts to advance mathematics education.

Throughout his career, Smith has driven key curricular innovations, including calculus reform and the UW Women and Science program. He led the design and launch of new Artificial Intelligence majors starting in Fall 2025, enhancing student opportunities in emerging technologies. Smith contributed to NSF-funded initiatives, such as partnerships with The College of New Jersey to strengthen industry collaborations and expand STEM research. His work in High Performance Computing and computational science programs has elevated UW-Eau Claire's national profile. In research, he co-authored 'Persistence of thin ice regions in Europa's ice crust' in Geophysical Research Letters (2002). Smith has also engaged in NSF-CCLI grant developments and mathematics education workshops. His involvement in university senate committees and endorsement of faculty for University Fellows and Karlgaard awards highlight his dedication to academic excellence and community.