Welcome to my page!
I am a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Mathematics at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) in Prescott, Arizona. My research interests lie in coding theory, error correcting codes, and information theory, as well as differential geometry and algebraic geometry. I also have interests in mathematics education, namely in innovative teaching strategies and different technologies used for instruction and assessment. I teach a wide variety of undergraduate mathematics courses at ERAU, ranging from first-year Calculus to 4xx-level mathematics courses.

I currently serve as the Archivist of the Faculty Senate at ERAU Prescott. During the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 academic years, I was a Faculty Fellow of ERAU's Center for Teaching & Learning Excellence. I also served as the Secretary of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) Southwestern Section and was a Co-director for the Arizona Women's Symposium in Mathematics in 2022-2024.

I received my Ph.D. in Mathematics at the University of Houston under the guidance of Dr. Gordon Heier after completing my doctoral dissertation in the field of complex differential geometry. 

Contact Information:

• Office: AC1 (Building 74), Room 219 (Click here for a campus map.)

• Office Hours (Fall 2026): MW 1-2pm, Tu 2-4pm, ThF 11am-12pm, and by appointment 

• Email: alvara44 [at] erau [dot] edu

• Office Phone: 928-777-3447

• Postal Address:  Department of Mathematics, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, 3700 Willow Creek Rd., Prescott, AZ 86301

Fall 2026 - Summer 2027 Plans and Activities:

•  October 24-25, 2026: 2026 AMS Fall Central Sectional Meeting, University of Minnesota - Duluth, Invited Speaker
  
  

My research is partially funded by the following:

• ERAU Undergraduate Research Institute Summer Initative Grant (w/ NASA Space Grant Program)  (Summer 2026)

• Mathematical Congress of the Americas (MCA) 2025 Travel Grant (funded by NSF Award #2420393 to the AMS)

• AMS-Simons Research Enhancement Grants for Primarily Undergraduate Institution (PUI) Faculty Grant, PI (2023 - 2026)

• ERAU Faculty Innovative Research in Science and Technology (FIRST) Grant, Co-PI (2023 - 2024)

My service to the mathematical community is partially funded by the following:

• MAA Tensor Women and Mathematics Grant, Co-PI (2022-2023, 2023-2024, 2024-2025)