Rate My Professor Tynan Kelly

Tynan Kelly serves as Teaching Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Nevada, Reno, a position he has held since 2015. His academic journey began at the same university, where he earned a B.S. in Mathematics with a minor in Economics in 2008, followed by an M.S. in Mathematics in 2010 with a thesis entitled "Rational Witt Classes of 4-Stranded Pretzel Knots," advised by Stanislav Jabuka. He completed his Ph.D. in Mathematics at Brandeis University in 2015, with a dissertation titled "Twisted Linking Numbers and Casson-Gordon Invariants," under the supervision of Daniel Ruberman. Kelly's research specializes in low-dimensional topology and knot theory, with a particular emphasis on knot concordance. He has contributed to the field through the publication "The non-orientable 4-genus for knots with 8 or 9 crossings," co-authored with Stanislav Jabuka and published in Algebraic & Geometric Topology 18-3 (2018), 1823–1856.

Kelly has demonstrated exceptional teaching prowess throughout his career, earning the 2012-13 Mathematics Teaching Award from the Department of Mathematics at Brandeis University, the 2010 Excellence in Teaching Award from the Department of Mathematics & Statistics at the University of Nevada, Reno, and the 2009-10 Jerry and Betty Wilson Scholarship in Mathematics from the same department. He held a GAANN Fellowship from Brandeis University from 2010 to 2013. At UNR, he advanced through roles including Lecturer II from 2019 to 2021 and Teaching Assistant Professor from 2021 to present, alongside his primary teaching associate professor appointment. Designated as Graduate Faculty since 2017, he serves as Faculty Senate Liaison (Ex-Officio Representative) on the Graduate Council and as a faculty mentor in the College of Science for general and pure mathematics. In 2024, Kelly was nominated for the LeMay Award for Excellence in Teaching by the College of Science and recognized as Westfall Scholar Mentor for Mason Franklin.