Rate My Professor Kim Spayd

Kimberly Spayd is the Chairperson and Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics at Gettysburg College, where she joined the faculty in the fall of 2012 as an Assistant Professor and has since been promoted. Her academic background includes a Bachelor of Science in mathematics, with a concentration in applied mathematics, from the University of Notre Dame; a Master of Science in statistics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; and a Doctor of Philosophy in mathematics from North Carolina State University. During her doctoral studies, Spayd began investigating partial differential equation models of two-phase flow in porous media, laying the foundation for her research trajectory.

Throughout her career at Gettysburg College, Spayd has maintained an active research agenda centered on applied mathematics, particularly partial differential equations modeling fluid dynamics, the interdisciplinary intersection of mathematics and art, and the use of fractal geometry to study instabilities in fluid displacement scenarios. Notable publications include her co-authored paper "A Three-Fold Approach to the Heat Equation: Data Collection, Computer Simulation, and Classroom Experimentation" published in 2016 with James G. Puckett, and "Traveling Waves for Conservation Laws with Cubic Nonlinearity and BBM Type Dispersion" in 2015 with Michael Shearer and Ellen R. Swanson. She also contributed to open educational resources by co-creating the "Calculus I Companion" in 2023 with Beth Campbell Hetrick, providing supplementary materials on algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and precalculus for calculus students. In recognition of her commitment to undergraduate research, Spayd received a $34,360 grant from the Mathematical Association of America in 2024. This funded the National Research Experience for Undergraduates project, where she mentored four students from underrepresented groups in developing ordinary differential equation models of brain chemistry associated with early-stage romantic love, integrating fMRI data and models from addiction research. These efforts underscore her impact on fostering research opportunities and inclusive practices in mathematics education.