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Professor of Mathematics
Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Saint Louis University
220 N. Grand Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63103
U.S.A.

email: russell.blyth@slu.edu

Phone: (314)977-2458
Department Office: (314)977-2444

Please see "Publications, Abstracts, Lectures and Conferences" for a complete list of these items.

B. Sc.(Hons.) First Class, in Mathematics, 1982, Massey University, New Zealand
M. S. in Mathematics, 1984, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Ph. D. in Mathematics, 1987, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Dissertation Title: Rewriting Products of Group Elements

Advisor: Derek J. S. Robinson

1987 - 1991: Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Saint Louis University
1991 - 2010: Associate Professor, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Saint Louis University

• 1994 - 1999: Lower Division Coordinator, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Saint Louis University

2010 - 2016: Professor, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Saint Louis University
2016 - present: Professor, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Saint Louis University
May - August 1990: Visitor, University of Auckland, New Zealand. Research activities and taught Number Theory
February - May 2014: Visitor, Università di Firenze. Research activities (sabbatical leave)
February - May 2022: Visitor, Università di Firenze. Research activities (sabbatical leave)

• Math 1200 College Algebra
• Math 1250 Seminar in Mathematics - Mathematical Thinking in the Real World
• Math 1320 Survey of Calculus
• Math 1400 Precalculus
• Math 1510 Calculus I
• Math 1520 Calculus II
• Math 2530 Calculus III
• Math 3110 Linear Algebra for Engineers
• Math 3120 Introduction to Linear Algebra
• Math 3240 Numerical Analysis (as Math 493)
• Math 3800 Elementary Theory of Probability (as Math 401)
• Math 3810 Probability and Statistics for Engineers (as Math 403)
• Math 4110 Introduction to Abstract Algebra
• Math 4120/5102 Linear Algebra
• CSCI 452 Applied Combinatorics (replaced by Math 3600 Combinatorics)
• Math 4850 Introduction to Mathematical Statistics (as Math 402)
• Math 5110 Graduate Algebra I
• Math 5120 Graduate Algebra II
• Math 5980 Graduate Reading Courses (on several topics)
• Math 6110 Topics in Algebra: Graduate Algebra III (as Math 518)
• Math 6180 Topics in Algebra: Group Theory (as Math 518)
• Math 6180 Topics in Algebra: Group Theory
• Math 6180 Topics in Algebra: Homological Algebra
• Math 6980 Graduate Reading Course
• Math 6990 Dissertation Research

Group Theory

• Joanne Redden, The Nonabelian Tensor Square of the Free 2-Engel Group of Rank n, May 2003
• Christine Bussman, Commutator Conditions in Normal Closures of Engel Groups, May 2011
• Mark Pedigo, The Lower Central Series of the Free Nilpotent Groups of Finite Rank, May 2014

• New Student Orientation, 1989-1992, 1994
• Standing Committee on Curriculum, College of Arts and Sciences, 1992-1993, 1994-1996, and 1997-1998
• Committee for the Recruitment of Graduate Students, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, 1991-2009
• Retention Subcommittee of the University Enrollment Task Force, 1993
• Coordinator of Lower Division Mathematics, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, 1994-1999
• Calculus Reform Task Force (Leader), Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, 1994-1995
• Ad hoc Residential College Committee, College of Arts and Sciences, 1995
• Graduate School Ad hoc Committee on the Mandatory Public Oral Defense of the Dissertation, 1996-1997
• Bookstore Committee (Office of Student Life), 1996-2000
• Standing Committee on the Core Curriculum, College of Arts and Sciences, 1998-2001
• Presented frequent presentations on the SLU 2000 inquiry seminar course program to students, faculty, advisors, high school counselors and administrators, 2001-2007
• Academic Welcome speaker, SLU 101 (summer orientation program) lunch, June 2004
• Core Assessment Committee, College of Arts and Sciences, 2004-2009 (Chair, Spring 2008 - Spring 2009)
• Discussion group leader, Freshman reading, 2005-2006
• Online Pedagogy Committee (Center for Teaching Excellence), 2006-2007
• AP Calculus reader, 2006, 2007
• Developer of mathematics help web site www.mathmistakes.info, 2006-present
• Co-organizer (with David A. Jackson), Zassenhaus group theory conference, Saint Louis University, 2007
• Co-organizer (with Marston Conder (University of Auckland)) of the Special Session "Groups, Actions and Computation" at the First Joint Meeting of the American Mathematical Society and the New Zealand Mathematical Society, Wellington, New Zealand, December 12-15, 2007
• Member of the Board of Consultants for the philosophy text "Critical Thinking in College (2nd custom edition)" by George W. Rainbolt and Sandra L. Dwyer, Thomson, Mason OK, 2008
• External consultant for review of developmental mathematics courses at South East Missouri State University, July 2008
• Member, Executive Committee of the Faculty Council, College of Arts and Sciences, Spring 2008-Spring 2009
• Chair of part of MAA Contributed Paper session, Joint Mathematics meetings, Washington, D.C., January 8, 2009
• Chair of parallel talk session, Group St. Andrews 2009 in Bath, August 2009
• Chair, ad hoc committee on department governance, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Fall 2009
• Co-organizer of group theory section, Ohio State-Denison conference, Columbus OH, 2010
• Upper division/mathematics major committee, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, 2010-2016 (interim convenor, Spring 2010; Chair Fall 2012-Fall 2013, Fall 2014-Spring 2016)
• Upper division/mathematics major committee, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, 2016-2021 (Chair Fall 2016-Fall 2021), 2023-2024 (Chair)
• Beckenbach Book Award Committee, 2018-2022, Mathematical Association of America
• Curriculum Committee, College of Arts and Sciences, 2018-2020
• DEI (Diversity, equity and inclusion) committee, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, 2022-2024
• Rank, Tenure, and Sabbaticals Committee, College of Arts and Sciences, 2022-2024
• Chair of parallel talk session, Group Theory in Florence IV, , Università di Firenze, Florence (Italy), July 2, 2024

1. Co-investigator on NSF grant DUE 9851405 (Instrumentation and Laboratory Improvement Program), for installation of computer classroom in Ritter Hall, $34,291, July 1998 - June 2001 (Principal investigator T. Christine Stevens, co-investigator, Michael K. May).
2. Co-investigator on MAA PREP grant (Principal Investigator: Julianne Rainbolt), to present the on-line workshop "Abstract Algebra with GAP" (July 14-18, 2003), $15,800. The PREP program was funded by NSF grant DUE 0089005.
3. Co-Principal Investigator (with Julianne Rainbolt) on MAA PREP grant, to present the on-line workshop "Exploring Abstract Algebra Using Computer Software" (June 28 - July 2, 2004), $13,000. The PREP program is funded by NSF grant DUE 0341481.
4. Co-Principal Investigator (with Michael K. May, S.J.) on Mathematical Association of America PREP (Professional Enhancement Program) grant, to present the on-line workshop "Exploring Linear Algebra Using Maple" (June 27 - July 1, 2005), $12,500. The PREP program is funded by NSF grant DUE 0341481.
5. Co-Principal Investigator (with Dr. Julianne Rainbolt) on Mathematical Association of America PREP (Professional Enhancement Program) grant, to present the on-line workshop "Incorporating the Software GAP into Teaching Abstract Algebra" (July 10 - July 14, 2006), $13,000. The PREP program is funded by NSF grant DUE 0341481.
6. Co-Principal Investigator (with Michael K. May, S.J.) on Mathematical Association of America PREP (Professional Enhancement Program) grant, to present the on-line workshop "Exploring Multivariable Calculus Using Maple" (July 24 - July 28, 2006), $12,500. The PREP program is funded by NSF grant DUE 0341481.
7. Co-Principal Investigator (with Michael K. May, S.J.) on Mathematical Association of America PREP (Professional Enhancement Program) grant, to present the on-line workshop "Exploring Multivariable Calculus Using Maple" (June 25 - June 29, 2007), $12,500. The PREP program is funded by NSF grant DUE 0341481.

• University Grants Committee (New Zealand) Postgraduate Scholarship (with Overseas tenure), awarded 1981, held 1982-85
• Fulbright Travel Grant, 1982
• University Fellowship (University of Illinois), 1982-83, 1983-84
• Department of Mathematics (University of Illinois) Instructional Award, 1985
• Beaumont Faculty Development Grant, Saint Louis University, 1989
• Summer Research Award, College of Arts and Sciences, Saint Louis University, 1989
• University of Auckland Foundation (Travel) Grant, 1990
• College of Arts and Sciences Travel Award, Saint Louis University, 1992
• College of Arts and Sciences Travel Award, Saint Louis University, 1994 (two awards)
• College of Arts and Sciences Travel Award, Saint Louis University, 1996
• Beaumont Faculty Development Grant, Saint Louis University, 1997
• First Honorary Mention, Burlington Northern Faculty Achievement Award, Saint Louis University, 1997
• College of Arts and Sciences Travel Award, Saint Louis University, 2001
• William V. Stauder, S.J. Award for Excellence in Teaching in the Natural Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, 2010
• Student Government Association Faculty Excellence Award, Saint Louis University, 2016-2017
• Billiken Athletics "Professor Who Made a Difference", Saint Louis University, 2021 (see Video)
• Stolle Award, College of Arts and Sciences, Saint Louis University, 2022

• American Mathematical Society, 1982-present (life member)
• Mathematical Association of America, 1987-present