Annalisa Crannell
Carmie L. and Beatrice J. Creitz Emerita Professor of Mathematics
Franklin & Marshall College
Annalisa Crannell
Carmie L. and Beatrice J. Creitz Emerita Professor of Mathematics
Franklin & Marshall College
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Carmie L. and Beatrice J. Creitz Emerita Professor of Mathematics
Franklin & Marshall College
I am a mathematician whose work explores questions at the intersection of art and mathematics: How do we take this wonderful, three-dimensional world we live in, and project it onto a two-dimensional canvas? This question has implications for how we draw, how we interpret photographs, and how we (sometimes deliberately) fool ourselves with the images we create.
I am a mathematician whose work explores questions at the intersection of art and mathematics: How do we take this wonderful, three-dimensional world we live in, and project it onto a two-dimensional canvas? This question has implications for how we draw, how we interpret photographs, and how we (sometimes deliberately) fool ourselves with the images we create.
I have given over one hundred talks, written numerous journal articles, and also co-authored a pair of fun textbooks on this subject. I am currently working on "Double Take": a book on perspective-based optical illusions that arise not just from the elements of the drawing or photograph itself—not just the vanishing points, the converging lines, the trapezoidal checkered floors—but from viewers' interactions with the canvas.
I have given over one hundred talks, written numerous journal articles, and also co-authored a pair of fun textbooks on this subject. I am currently working on "Double Take": a book on perspective-based optical illusions that arise not just from the elements of the drawing or photograph itself—not just the vanishing points, the converging lines, the trapezoidal checkered floors—but from viewers' interactions with the canvas.
During my 32-year career at Franklin & Marshall College, I developed many widely used classroom resources, including a series of writing projects, and IBL (Inquiry-Based Learning) worksheets for Calculus I, Calculus II, Abstract Algebra, and Real Analysis. These resources are still available in the Teaching Materials pages here.
During my 32-year career at Franklin & Marshall College, I developed many widely used classroom resources, including a series of writing projects, and IBL (Inquiry-Based Learning) worksheets for Calculus I, Calculus II, Abstract Algebra, and Real Analysis. These resources are still available in the Teaching Materials pages here.
Why I Teach Mathematics
Why I Teach Mathematics
I started teaching math for the very geeky reason that I love doing math, and I doubly love doing math with other people.
Once I got started though, I was inspired by some amazing people to broaden my outlook. Bob Moses (Civil Rights activist and developer of the Algebra Project) argued that a strong mathematical education is essential for economic justice. Master teachers Jaime Escalante and Uri Treisman transformed traditional (that is, failing) classrooms full of Latinx and African American students into communities of high-performing prowess, and in so doing they opened all our eyes to the chances to serve our own students better. I have also learned first-hand how important it is to be willing to fail wisely, to learn from those failures, and to persevere.
I've come to want my role to be one that empowers all my students and other people I meet--whoever they might be and whatever background they bring--as best I can, so that they can be gritty problem solvers, effective communicators, and adroit builders of community.
Where I am now
Where I am now
I have retired; during the 2025-2026 academic year, I'm mostly Lancaster, Pennsylvania, but I've been enjoying taking trips to give talks across Pennsylvania and beyond.
During the 2024-2025 academic year, I was in Panama, serving as a Fulbright U.S. Scholar. My host was FUNDAPROMAT (the Foundation for the Promotion of Mathematics in Panama). You can follow my adventures on my blog.
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