Dr. Spirit Karcher's headshot

Dr. Spirit Karcher

Assistant Professor
karchers@unk.edu
Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Research focus areas: Introductory mathematics curriculum development with a focus on quantitative and covariational reasoning, as well as professional development for undergraduate faculty.

Areas of Expertise

  • Math
  • Math Education

Education

Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction: Mathematics Education from Florida State University

  • Dissertation: A Case Study of Graduate Student Instructors’ Mathematical Knowledge For Teaching Exponential Functions

M.S. in College STEM Teaching with a concentration in Mathematics from Florida State University

B.A. in Mathematics from Christopher Newport University

Research

Research Focus 

  • Introductory mathematics curriculum development with a focus on quantitative and covariational reasoning, as well as professional development for undergraduate faculty.

Publications (see also https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7319-0680)

  • Smith, J., Karcher, S., Whitacre, I., (2023). Is i a number? An examination of advanced undergraduate students' definitions of number. International Journal of Research in Undergraduate Mathematics Education.
  • Karcher, S., & Michael, M. (2021). Prime factors and divisibility of sums of powers of Fibonacci and Lucas Numbers. American Journal of Undergraduate Research. 17(4), 59–69. https://doi.org/10.33697/ajur.2020.036

Recent Presentations

  • Karcher, S., (February 2025). Graduate Student Instructors’ Mathematical Knowledge for Teaching: The Case of Leona. Mathematics Association of America Special Interest Group on Research in Undergraduate Mathematics. Alexandria, VA.
  • Karcher, S., Brewer Castano, S., (February 2024). An Exploration of Precalculus Students’ Reasoning about Exponential Functions. Mathematics Association of America Special Interest Group on Research in Undergraduate Mathematics. Omaha, NE
  • Karcher, S., Andrews-Larson, C., Simmons, C., Reynolds, K., Brewer Castano, S., (February 2023). Implementing and Scaling-Up of Research-Based Precalculus Curriculum. Mathematics Association of America Special Interest Group on Research in Undergraduate Mathematics. Omaha, NE
  • Karcher, S., (October 2022). Graduate Teaching Assistants’ Mathematical Knowledge for Teaching Precalculus. Northeast – SIGMAA on Research in Undergraduate Mathematics. Virtual Conference.

Professional Affiliations

Mathematics Association of America (MAA)

Special Interest Group: Research in Undergraduate Mathematics Education

Special Interest Group: Mathematical Knowledge for Teaching

American Educational Research Association (AERA)

Special Interest Group: Postsecondary Education

National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM)

Math Faculty Research Directory