Castro Named to McAlister Professorship

Alfonso Castro has been named McAlister Professor of Mathematics at Harvey Mudd College. Established in 2018 by longtime supporters Robert and Barbara McAlister to recognize and support the work of an outstanding faculty member within the Department of Mathematics, the appointment includes an annual discretionary fund to support travel, research or teaching.

Endowed faculty chairs are among the highest recognition accorded to a faculty member. An endowed chair honors and recognizes the distinction of outstanding faculty while providing invaluable support for salary, research, teaching or service activities.

A member of the College’s mathematics faculty since 2003, Castro specializes in applied mathematics, differential equations and nonlinear functional analysis. His research areas include partial differential equations (including semilinear equations with discrete spectrum), variational methods, inverse-function theorems and water waves (solitons).

In 2012, Castro was awarded a Simons Foundation Collaboration Grant for Mathematicians to support his research project, “Solvability of semilinear equations with discrete spectrum,” which involves equations fundamental to every area of science.

Castro is the co-founder and managing editor of the Electronic Journal of Differential Equations, a pioneering journal in paperless publication that publishes in excess of 150 research papers per year, accessible free of charge via the Internet.

Castro has served in several positions for the American Mathematical Association, including chair of the Human Rights Committee of the AMA.

Endowed faculty positions—chairs, professorships and fellowships—are among the top priorities for the College. These positions allow HMC to attract, retain and celebrate its outstanding faculty. During its successful, comprehensive fundraising effort, The Campaign for Harvey Mudd College, the College established 11 new professorships, one of which is the McAlister Professor of Mathematics.