David Austin

David Austin

Mathematics Department

Grand Valley State University

austind [at] gvsu [dot] edu

Curriculum Vitae




Open Educational Resources

Understanding Linear Algebra, an open-access linear algebra textbook written in PreTeXt

Active Calculus, the amazing open-access calculus text from Matt Boelkins

Open Textbook Initiative, sponsored by the American Institute of Mathematics.

Indigenous Mathematics

I belong to the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. As an Indigenous mathematician, I am working to build connections and provide mathematical opportunities for Indigenous students that respect Indigenous culture.

American Mathematical Society Feature Column

The American Mathematical Society's Feature Column is a monthly column written for a general audience and published by the AMS Public Awareness Office. I have written for the Feature Column from 2005 to the present.


The City of Grand Rapids

As an outgrowth of the MAA's PIC Math program, the Grand Valley Math department partners with the City of Grand Rapids, Michigan making use of their open data portal GRData.

Here are some student projects I have supervised:

  • Understanding Impacts of Development on the Cost of Living, an exploration of Area Median Income (AMI), housing affordability, and the role of development in the displacement of People of Color in some Grand Rapids' neighborhoods.

  • Grand Rapids Lead Abatement, recommendations to the City for making effective use of a $4.2M grant to provide assistance to homeowners for lead abatement in West Side neighborhoods.

  • Grand Rapids 311 Call Center, an analysis of calls to the Grand Rapid Customer Service Department aiming to improve equity in access to City services. Ongoing.

  • Parking Revenue in Downtown Grand Rapids, an analysis of the impact that COVID-19 has had on parking revenue and projections for future revenue. Ongoing.


Mathematical illustration

Some projects supporting mathematical illustration: