Gerald Lee Alexanderson (November 13, 1933 â December 16, 2020) was an American mathematician who studied combinatorics and number theory. He was the Michael & Elizabeth Valeriote Professor of Science at Santa Clara University, and in 1997âÂÂ1998 was president of the Mathematical Association of America. He was also president of The Fibonacci Association from 1980 to 1984.
Alexanderson did his undergraduate studies at the University of Oregon, graduating with a B.A. in 1955. He earned a master's degree from Stanford University in 1958, and in the same year joined the Santa Clara University faculty. At Santa Clara, he chaired the Department of Mathematics (later the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science) for 35 years, from 1967 to 2002. He also served as the Division Director of Physical Sciences and Mathematics. Abraham Hillman was his most frequent co-author. As a student, his greatest influences have been Ivan Niven and George Pólya.
He was the co-author, editor, or co-editor of 15 books. He served as the editor of Mathematics Magazine from 1986 to 1990, and was the associate editor of The American Mathematical Monthly and The College Mathematics Journal.
He actively promoted competitions in mathematics, and served as the associate director of the William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition.
In 2005, Alexanderson won both one of the Deborah and Franklin Haimo Awards for Distinguished College or University Teaching of Mathematics, and the Yueh-Gin Gung and Dr. Charles Y. Hu Award for Distinguished Service to Mathematics, both from the Mathematical Association of America.