Messiah College: Department of Mathematical Sciences

Department Faculty (2006-2007)

Front: Gene Chase(Emeritus), Barry DeRoos (Emeritus)
Second: Abaz Kryemadhi, Robert Barrett, Scott Weaver, Angela Hare
Back: Lamarr Widmer, Doug Phillippy, Samuel Wilcock, Chris Staecker, Marlin Eby

Fulltime Department Faculty

Mr. Robert Barrett Mr. Barrett is a professional engineer, who until the Engineering Department split off from Mathematical Sciences was the sole engineer at Messiah, providing lower division courses and articulating with our Temple University program. Until we hired a full-time statistician, Mr. Barrett taught our statistics courses. He continues to consult in industry at Modjeski & Masters, bridge engineers. His vita is available. His home page describes more of his professional and personal interests. One of his three children graduated with a Computer Science major in our department.

Dr. Marlin Eby A graduate of Millersville University, Dr. Marlin Eby received both his masters and his doctorate in statistics from the University of Florida. He worked as a Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of South Carolina from 1978-1981 and a statistical consultant for Info Tech, Inc. in Gainesville, Florida from 1981-1986 before coming to teach at Messiah in 1986. Dr. Eby teaches a variety of mathematical courses including Introductory Statistics, Calculus I, II, and III, Advanced Statistical Methods and Operations Research. His personal webpage is available here.

Dr. Angela Hare - Department Chair Dr. Hare comes to us from American University, where she studied how Calculus students learn, as part of her doctorate in mathematics education. She is eager to interest more women in mathematics as a career. She received an award for excellence in teaching while at American University, and continues that high quality here at Messiah College. Her home page is available.

Dr. Abaz Kryemadhi Dr. Abaz Kryemadhi, an undergraduate student of the University of Tirana in Tirana, Albania, completed his graduate work at Indiana University. His field of study has consisted largely of experimental astro-particle physics. He is currently in the process of obtaining a grant for one of his latest projects involving a machine which detects the high-energy cosmic rays emitted from black holes. Dr. Kryemadhi currently teaches IDST 200 (Technology and the World) as well as PHYS 211, 212 (General Education Physics). Dr. Kryemadhi’s personal webpage is available here.

Brian Nejmeh Professor Nejmeh came to Messiah College after spending 20 years in the software industry. He worked at ATT&T Bell Labs and is the founder of a successful software company. He has published numerous articles related to commercial technology issues in journals such as IEEE Software and Communications of the ACM. He is coauthor of a textbook , Software Engineering in the Unix/C Environment .Professor Nejmeh teaches courses in which student teams are developing software and information systems for non-profit organizations in the local community.

Dr. David Owen A proud Messiah graduate himself, Dr. David Owen returned to campus after completing his graduate studies at West Virginia University in software engineering. Dr. Owen currently teaches courses in Computer Graphics, Programming I and II, Operating Systems, and Problem-solving with Computers. Dr. Owen’s personal webpage will be available soon with links to a list of published graduate school articles as well as his dissertation.

Dr. Douglas Phillippy Dr. Phillippy is an applied mathematician. He has worked on the mathematics of stresses on the feet of a runner. A runner himself, he is also an elder and a high school youth leader at his church.

Dr. Gene Rohrbaugh Dr. Rohrbaugh is returning to Messiah College this fall to teach computer science. His personal webpage is available here.

Dr. P. Christopher Staecker As a relatively new addition to Messiah’s teaching staff, Dr. P. Christopher Staecker earned his undergraduate degree from Bates College, Maine before earning his doctorate in pure mathematics from UCLA with his Topological Fixed Point Theory. Dr. Staecker currently serves as the advisor for the Information Management team of the Staff group for the Collaboratory for Strategic Partnerships and Applied Research. He also had a mathematical article published in May with three more currently in review. Dr. Staecker teaches Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, and Calculus I. His personal webpage is available here. He and his wife Jen now have their first child and attend Dillsburg Brethren in Christ Church.

D. Scott Weaver Mr. Weaver comes to Messiah after spending seven years in the computer industry as a programmer analyst and consultant and nine years teaching mathematics and computer science at Mechancisburg Area High School. He has received his Cisco Certified Network Associate certificate a year ago and has brought that expertise into the networking classroom. He is currently working on a Ph.D. He also ministers at Daybreak church on the leadership team and as a worship leader. Scott's home page is here.

Dr. Lamarr Widmer Dr. Lamarr Widmer earned both his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Iowa. His field of interest is in mathematics, specifically algebra. He is the co-editor of the Journal of Recreational Mathematics, in which he publishes two or three short book reviews per issue as well as selects and edits certain mathematical problems and solutions from the Journal’s readers. Dr. Widmer teaches MATH 101, Calculus II, Linear Algebra, Algebraic Structures, and the Senior Math Seminar here at Messiah. He does not currently have a personal webpage available.

Dr. Samuel Wilcock Dr. Wilcock is a graduate of our department, and rejoined us as a member of the faculty in the fall of 2001 after completing his doctorate is in statistics at Virginia Tech. His dissertation developed a new nonparametric statistical test. His research interests include the affect of violating model assumptions, experimental design and various types of regression analysis.

Emeritus Faculty


Dr. Marvin Brubaker (Emeritus 2006) Dr. Brubaker now retired is former Governor of our section of the Mathematical Association of America. Active in Calculus reform, and the use of computing (in particular, the Derive symbolic algebra package) in teaching, Dr. Brubaker holds workshops all over the country to improve the teaching of mathematics. He has been honored by the MAA for his distinguished service to the mathematical community. His student-centered style of teaching has earned him appreciation from alumni of our department, who remember that even more than his legendary messy office in which he can always find what he needs. He enjoys being the guest lecture in several current math courses.

Dr. Wayne Cassel (Emeritus 1999) Dr. Wayne Cassel is now retired from mathematics teaching. Dr. Cassel created the Mathematical Sciences department at Messiah College in 1962, even before he returned to Syracuse University for his 1967 doctorate in algebra (Free Projective Modules, under David Lissner). He has been chair of the department from his return until 1999. Messiah College began a major period of computerization under his leadership while he served for a time as Registrar. He continues to assist the Academic Dean administratively. He created a new course on fractals as part of Messiah's first year seminar program. All three of his children graduated from Messiah College with majors in our department.

Dr. Gene Chase (Emeritus 2007) Dr. Chase's is currently retired and continues his major interest in the relationship between Christianity and Mathematics, a field in which he has published several papers and co-authored one book. He created the Computer Science major at Messiah College in 1979. His home page is available for further details. His oldest son graduated as a Computer Science major in our department. Dr. Chase returned from a sabbatical in 1998 at Cornell University, where he earned his doctorate in 1979.

Dr. J. Barry DeRoos (Emeritus 2007) Dr. DeRoos is currently retired but continues his interest in computer science education, object oriented programming, and problem solving methodologies. His Home Page provides class web pages, references for computer languages, and other resources.