Marilyn Carlson

Marilyn Paula Carlson
Born (1954-11-08) November 8, 1954
Kansas City, Missouri, United States
EducationPhD (1995), University of Kansas
OccupationsProfessor of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences
Known forResearch in mathematics education; curriculum development; collegiate athletics

Marilyn Paula Carlson (born November 8, 1954) is an American mathematics educator and researcher. She is a professor of Mathematics Education in the School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences at Arizona State University. Her work focuses on undergraduate mathematics education, particularly student learning in algebra, precalculus, and calculus, as well as curriculum development and teacher preparation.[1][2][3][4]

Prior to her academic career, Carlson competed as a collegiate athlete in track and field and basketball.[5]

Early life and education

Carlson was born in Kansas City, Missouri, and raised in a rural area of the Midwest. She attended Cass Midway High School. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics and physical education from Central Missouri State University (now the University of Central Missouri) in 1977, graduating cum laude. She later earned a Master of Science degree in computer science from the University of Kansas in 1987 and completed a PhD in mathematics education at the University of Kansas in 1995.[1][2][5]

Career

Carlson began her teaching career at Haskell Indian Nations University in 1978. She also taught secondary mathematics and computer science at DeSoto High School in Kansas. During her graduate studies at the University of Kansas, she taught undergraduate mathematics courses and served as Director of First Year Mathematics from 1991 to 1995.[1][4]

After completing her doctorate, Carlson joined Arizona State University as an assistant professor. She served as Director of First Year Mathematics at ASU from 1995 to 1998 and later as Director of the Center for Research on Education in Science, Mathematics, Engineering and Technology (CRESMET) from 2003 to 2008.At Arizona State University, she has contributed to doctoral education in mathematics education and has supervised 18 doctoral dissertations.[1][2][6]

Research

Carlson's research examines student reasoning and conceptual understanding in algebra, precalculus, and calculus. Her work has addressed topics such as covariational reasoning, functions, rates of change, limits, and readiness for calculus.[7][8]

She has served as principal investigator or co–principal investigator on multiple research projects funded by the National Science Foundation, including an NSF CAREER award focused on modeling students’ mathematical thinking. Her research has contributed to the development of curriculum materials and assessment instruments used in undergraduate mathematics instruction.[8][9]

Carlson has also participated in national research initiatives examining undergraduate calculus instruction in the United States, including projects associated with the Mathematical Association of America.[10][11]

Curriculum development

Carlson is a author of the Pathways series of instructional materials for algebra, college algebra, and precalculus. These materials, including Precalculus: Pathways to Calculus and Pathways College Algebra, were developed as part of the Project Pathways research initiative, which integrates decades of research on student thinking and learning in mathematics. The Pathways curriculum is designed to support conceptual understanding and has been implemented at multiple colleges and universities in the United States as part of research and instructional reform efforts.[12][13][14][15]

Professional service

Carlson has contributed to national mathematics education initiatives and professional organizations. Her service includes participation on advisory and development committees for the Mathematical Association of America and the College Board, including work related to instructional practice guidelines and AP Precalculus.[16][3] She has also held leadership roles within the Research in Undergraduate Mathematics Education (RUME) community.[11][17][18]

Selected publications

  • Variation, Covariation, and Functions: Foundational Ways of Thinking Mathematically (2017) [19]
  • A Study of Students’ Readiness to Learn Calculus (2015) [20]
  • The Calculus Concept Readiness Instrument: Assessing Student Readiness for Calculus (2010) [10]
  • Precalculus: Pathways to Calculus (with co-authors, multiple editions) [21]
  • Making the Connection: Research and Teaching in Undergraduate Mathematics Education (2008) [22]

Honors and awards

  • NSF CAREER Award (1999–2004) [4]
  • NSF Award — National Science Foundation Grant No. 1323753 [23]
  • Mathematical Association of America Selden Award for Research in Undergraduate Mathematics Education (2007) [24]
  • Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award, Arizona State University (2008) [25]
  • Multiple NSF-Funded Research Grants [2]
  • First Year Mathematics Faculty, Governor's Spirit of Excellence Award (1998) [26]

Athletics

While a student at Central Missouri State University, Carlson competed in track and field and basketball. She earned All-American honors in track and field and advanced to the final round of the U.S. Olympic Trials in women's basketball in 1976. She was later inducted into the University of Central Missouri Hall of Fame.[5][27]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Marilyn Carlson | ASU Search". search.asu.edu. Retrieved 2026-01-19.
  2. ^ a b c d Arizona Board of Regents https://experts.azregents.edu/en/persons/marilyn-carlson/. Retrieved 2026-01-19. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. ^ a b "Marilyn Carlson - The Mathematics Genealogy Project". www.genealogy.math.ndsu.nodak.edu. Retrieved 2026-01-19.
  4. ^ a b c "Marilyn Carlson | Hayden-McNeil Macmillan Learning". haydenmcneil.com. Retrieved 2026-01-19.
  5. ^ a b c "Marilyn Carlson (1995) - Hall of Fame". University of Central Missouri Athletics. Retrieved 2026-01-19.
  6. ^ "Carlson's outreach, research transforms CRESMET | ASU News". news.asu.edu. Retrieved 2026-01-19.
  7. ^ Carlson, Marilyn; Oehrtman, Michael; Engelke, Nicole (January 2010). "The precalculus concept assessment: A tool for assessing students' reasoning abilities and understandings". Cognition and Instruction. 28 (1): 113–145. doi:10.1080/07370001003676587. ISSN 0737-0008.
  8. ^ a b "Pathways Mathematics". rationalreasoning.net. Retrieved 2026-01-19.
  9. ^ "Learning and Understanding: Improving Advanced Study of Mathematics and Science in U.S. High Schools". www.nationalacademies.org. Retrieved 2026-01-19.
  10. ^ a b Carlson, Marilyn; Madison, Bernard; West, Richard (2010-10-13). "The Calculus Concept Readiness (CCR) Instrument: Assessing Student Readiness for Calculus". arXiv:1010.2719 [math.HO].
  11. ^ a b "Pathways to Calculus: A Research-Based Model for Transforming Precalculus-Level Mathematics Teaching and Learning | Successful STEM Education". successfulstemeducation.org. Retrieved 2026-01-19.
  12. ^ Carlson, Marilyn (2020-06-15). Pathways College Algebra: Fifth Edition. Rational Reasoning, LLC. ISBN 978-1-7326111-7-7.
  13. ^ Carlson, Marilyn P (January 1, 2018). Pathways College Algebra (Fourth Edition) (Fourth ed.). Rational Reasoning, LLC. ISBN 978-1732611108.
  14. ^ Carlson, Marilyn P.; O’Bryan, Alan E.; Strayer, Jeremy F.; McNicholl, Timothy H.; Hagman, Jess E. (2024-03-01). "Considering, piloting, scaling and sustaining a research-based precalculus curriculum and professional development innovation". The Journal of Mathematical Behavior. 73 101126. doi:10.1016/j.jmathb.2024.101126. ISSN 0732-3123.
  15. ^ "Pathways to Calculus: A Research-Based Model for Transforming Precalculus-Level Mathematics Teaching and Learning | Successful STEM Education". www.successfulstemeducation.org. Retrieved 2026-01-19.
  16. ^ "About AP Precalculus – AP Central | College Board". apcentral.collegeboard.org. Retrieved 2026-01-19.
  17. ^ "Marilyn P. Carlson". scholar.google.com. Retrieved 2026-01-19.
  18. ^ maa, org. "Making the Connection Research and Teaching in Undergraduate Mathematics Education" (PDF).
  19. ^ Thompson, Patrick W.; Carlson, M. (2017). "Variation , Covariation , and Functions : Foundational Ways of Thinking Mathematically *". S2CID 45641070. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  20. ^ "Client Challenge". www.scribd.com. Retrieved 2026-01-19.
  21. ^ Carlson, Marilyn Paula; Oehrtman, Michael; Moore, Kevin (2015-06-15). Precalculus: A Problem Solving Approach: Pathways to Calculus Unabridged: Pathways to Calculus. Rational Reasoning, LLC. ISBN 978-0-9963816-0-4.
  22. ^ Carlson, Marilyn Paula; Rasmussen, Chris (2008). Making the Connection: Research and Teaching in Undergraduate Mathematics Education. Mathematical Association of America. ISBN 978-0-88385-183-8.
  23. ^ "Award Details - NSF Award Search". www.nsf.gov. Retrieved 2026-01-19.
  24. ^ "Awards and Accolades | School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences". math.asu.edu. Retrieved 2026-01-19.
  25. ^ "Marilyn P. Carlson | Graduate College". graduate.asu.edu. Retrieved 2026-01-19.
  26. ^ "Sedalia Democrat Newspaper Archives, Jan 2, 1995, p. 7". NewspaperArchive.com. 1995-01-02. Retrieved 2026-01-19.
  27. ^ "Hall of Fame". University of Central Missouri Athletics. Retrieved 2026-01-19.
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