Four Join OBU's Hurley College of Science and Mathematics

Four faculty members have joined OBU's James E. Hurley College of Science and Mathematics for the fall 2013 semester. Dr. Tanner Auch joins as assistant professor of mathematics; Dr. Cherith Tucker joins as assistant professor of mathematics; Dr. Ming Liang Zhang joins as assistant professor of physics; and Dr. Lakshmi Chochalingam Kasi Viswanath joins as chemistry lecturer and lab stockroom manager.

Dr. Tanner Auch	Dr. Cherith Tucker

Dr. Tanner Auch is an assistant professor of mathematics; he earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics and computer science from MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, Kan. He also earned a master's degree in mathematics from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and a doctorate in mathematics from the University of Nebraska. Auch most recently worked as a graduate teaching assistant for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and previously served as an instructor at Vacaville Christian Schools in Vacaville, Calif.

Auch was awarded the Don Miller Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award by the University of Nebraska Mathematics Department in 2012. He was also awarded the Walter Mientka Teaching Award in 2009, the first recipient of the award. He is a member of the American Mathematical Society, the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, the Association for Women in Mathematics, Pi Lambda Theta, and Alpha Chi.

Dr. Cherith Tucker is an assistant professor of mathematics; she earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Southern Nazarene University in Oklahoma City. She also earned a master's degree in mathematics from the University of Oklahoma, and a doctorate in mathematics from the University of Oklahoma. She most recently served as an instructor in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Oklahoma, and previously served as an adjunct instructor in the Department of Mathematics at Southern Nazarene University.

Tucker was awarded the Harold Huneke Graduate Assistant Teaching Award from the University of Oklahoma in spring 2009. She has served as Vice President of the OU Math Graduate Student Association, and a panelist discussing undergraduate research in math at the Oklahoma-Arkansas sectional. She is a member of the American Mathematical Society.

Dr. Ming Liang Zhang	Dr. Lakshmi Chochalingam Kasi Viswanath

Dr. Ming Liang Zhang is an assistant professor of physics; he earned a bachelor's degree in physical chemistry from Lanzhou University in Lanzhou, China. He also earned a master's degree in physical chemistry from Jilin University in Changchun, China, and a doctorate in theoretical condense matter physics from the Chinese Academy of Science in Beijing, China. He previously served as a research assistant professor in Ohio University's Department of Physics and Astronomy, and has had articles published in over 40 scholarly publications.

Dr. Lakshmi Chochalingam Kasi Viswanath is a chemistry lecturer and lab stockroom manager; she earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Madras University in Chennai, India. She also earned a master's degree in applied chemistry from Anna University in Chennai, India, a second master's degree in philosophy in chemistry from Madurai Kamaraj University in Madurai, India, and a doctorate in organic chemistry from Oklahoma State University.

Viswanath previously served as the senior research officer for Sanmar Specialty Chemicals in Chennai, India. She has been awarded a gold medal- top rank- in the master's program at Anna University, and the gold medal- top rank- bachelor's program at Madras University.

OBU's James E. Hurley College of Science and Mathematics supports degree programs in natural science, biochemistry, biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics designed to prepare students for graduate study or careers, as well as spiritual integration that will provide opportunities for success in an ever-changing social environment.