March 30, 2015

Cratis D. Williams Graduate School

Appalachian State University
BOX 32068
Boone, NC 28608
Max Poole, Dean

Department of Curriculum and Instruction

ASU Box 32047
Boone, NC 28608-2047
(828) 262-2224
FAX: (828) 262-2686

RE: Request for Membership in Graduate Faculty

Graduate School Council,

As a new faculty member of Appalachian State University, I am requesting consideration for

Full Graduate Faculty Status. Currently, my role within the university is as an Assistant
Professor of Mathematics Education in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. I taught
CI 4030: Teaching Mathematics in the Elementary School in the fall semester of 2014 and am
currently teaching CI 3030: Investigating Mathematics and Learning. Although I am new to
Appalachian State, evidence demonstrates that I have experience teaching graduate level courses,
strive to remain current on the research in my discipline, and have the potential to provide
service to the university and the professional community.
Before coming to Appalachian State, I attended the University of Nevada, Reno. At UNR, I was
a graduate assistant and part of my responsibilities included teaching four graduate elementary
mathematics courses for the College of Education. As the instructor of this course, I established
partnerships with area schools, helped students develop their lesson plans, observed them teach,
provided feedback on the lessons, and mentored students about teaching children. Overall, my
course evaluations for graduate and undergraduate classes have been positive. In addition to
teaching at the graduate level, I have helped with numerous mathematics professional
development sessions for experienced in-service teachers.
Since transitioning from a graduate student to an assistant professor, I have maintained current in
my discipline by attending and presenting at multiple mathematics education conferences,
working collaboratively on research manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals, and have been
accepted to attend an institute for service, teaching, and research (STaR) funded by the
Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators. In addition to these engagements in research, I
have also submitted two articles to peer-reviewed journals and continue to write manuscripts that
stem from my dissertation study on student learning in beginning algebra.
As a faculty member of Appalachian State, I see my service to the university as essential. I have
participated in service opportunities at department, college, and professional levels. I serve as a
faculty member on the Scholarship Committee in my department and am also a member of the
Faculty Awards Committee in my college. Next semester, I will strive to be on a university
committee. On the professional level, I serve as a reviewer for the journal, Mathematics
A MEMBER INSTITUTION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AN EQUAL
OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Teaching in the Middle School and for the Psychology of Mathematics North American Chapter
Conference (PME-NA). In the upcoming year, I will be conducting two workshops at the 2015
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Annual Meeting and working with a committee for
the Service, Teaching, and Research (STaR) Summer Institute for Mathematics Education.
I appreciate your consideration of my application for full graduate faculty status. If you have
any further questions or need additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me at 828262-2177 or at mossdl@appstate.edu.
Sincerely,

Diana L. Moss, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Mathematics Education
Department of Curriculum and Instruction
College of Education

A MEMBER INSTITUTION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AN EQUAL

OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER