Spencer Hamblen Ph.D.

• Professor

I have been fascinated by mathematical puzzles for as long as I can remember (How can you cut a bagel into 13 pieces using only 3 cuts)? I supervise McDaniel's teams in various mathematics competitions, and lead trips to regional and national conferences every year to show students the wider world of mathematics.

My research areas include number theory, algebraic symmetry, and arithmetic dynamics. My summer research group studies generalizations of Waring's Problem (sums of powers of numbers) in the settings of Quaternion rings and ramified p-adic rings. I also have an interest in mathematics pedagogy, specifically inquiry-based and mastery-based teaching methods.

I am the faculty mentor for McDaniel College’s cross-country teams, and enjoy high quality chalkboard chalk and very long board games.