Professional Bio

Dr. Rebecca E. Garcia is a Professor of Mathematics in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at Colorado College (CC). Previous to this, she was Professor of Mathematics at Sam Houston State University. She continues to serve as Co-Director of the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute Undergraduate Program (MSRI-UP) and the Project Director and PI for the MAA's National REU Program. 

She is native CHamoru, born and raised in Guam, and, so far as she knows, is the first CHamoru to earn a doctoral degree in theoretical mathematics. Her journey in mathematics began at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, CA, where she earned her bachelors degree. She obtained a masters degree from the University of California at Berkeley, and her doctoral degree from New Mexico State University under the direction Irena Swanson. Her research interests are at the intersection of computational and commutative algebra and combinatorics, with contributions in computational algebraic combinatorics, theory of sandpile groups, dimension theory of partially ordered sets, and in generalized graph splines.

Her record of service is a reflection of her love for her community and a commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion: from running math circles at SHSU and preparatory programs for local middle school students to directing national undergraduate research programs that aim to increase the number of underrepresented students attaining advanced degrees in the mathematical sciences. Inspired by the programs started by her mentor Dr. Herbert A. Medina, Dr. Garcia founded and co-directed the mentoring and research program Pacific Undergraduate Research Experience in Mathematics (PURE Math) from 2011 - 2015. PURE Math was housed at the University of Hawai`i at Hilo and was dedicated to increasing the numbers of indigenous people in the mathematical sciences. She is also part of the collaborative effort IndigenousMathematicians.org, a website and community dedicated to spotlighting the journey and mathematical contributions of Indigenous mathematicians including Native Americans, Native Alaskans, Native Hawai`ians, and Native Pacific Islanders.

Dr. Garcia is an active member of the American Mathematical Society, the Mathematical Association of America, the Association for Women in Mathematics, and the National Association of Mathematicians. She is the recipient of the 2015 Texas Section MAA Award for Distinguished College and University Teaching of Mathematics and the 2023 MAA Inclusivity Award.