Mary Harper

Mary E. Harper, Ph.D. earned her Bachelors of Science in Mathematics Education from East Central University in 2002. Her Masters of Science in Mathematics from the University of Oklahoma was completed in 2005. Last, she earned a Doctorate of Philosophy in Mathematics Education for the area of Instructional Leadership and Curriculum in 2012 from the University of Oklahoma.

Mary was a First-Gen student as well as a McNair Scholar during her undergraduate time at East Central University. She has been heavily involved at the state and local level in mathematics education in the areas of professional development, legislation, curriculum recommendations, tutoring, and intervention. Her primary fields of interest are in the areas of mathematics education, specifically, with preservice teachers and the focus on conceptual reasoning, mathematical beliefs, and mathematical pedagogy.

She is a member of the Oklahoma Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the Mathematical Association of America OK-AR chapter. She has planned conferences for both organizations throughout her time in higher education. Mary has taught a variety of mathematics, math education, and method courses as well as supervised student teachers and mentored first-year teachers in Oklahoma since 2002. She also taught for the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics for three years in the Muskogee Regional Center. During her time at OSSM, she created the Annual Regional Math Competition (and Engineering) for 200 area middle school participants through her involvement in the STEM Alliance.