Professor
Academic Degrees
Suzanne Sumner, Professor of Mathematics, earned a Ph.D. (1992) and M.S. (1987) in applied mathematics from North Carolina State University, after receiving a B.S. (1985) in mathematics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. A member of Phi Beta Kappa, Dr. Sumner is an expert on dynamical systems. The recipient of teaching awards at North Carolina State University and Mary Washington, she is active in efforts to improve teaching innovation and to promote interdisciplinary connections.
Dr. Sumner’s research involves mathematical modeling of honey bee behavior and demographics, such as modeling data describing worker bee aggression towards a foreign queen bee and modeling phenomena such as colony collapse disorder.
Dr. Sumner is currently serving as chair of the IOTA State Virginia Scholars Award program of Delta Kappa Gamma, an international professional honorary society for women educators. She also is the chair of the Ellinor Preston Coordinating Council of the IOTA State Organization of Delta Kappa Gamma.