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JesúsR.Oliver Faculty Profile

Photo of Jesús Oliver

Jesús  R.  Oliver

Associate Professor

What makes me unique

Professor Oliver was born and raised in Venezuela 🇻🇪 and also lived in Mexico City, Mexico 🇲🇽. As a first-generation college graduate, first-generation Latine immigrant, and someone who learned English as a second language, he brings these experiences to his work as a mathematician, educator, and mentor. Outside the university, he enjoys spending time with his two children, visiting family in Southern California, and learning about mathematical physics. He received the MAA Golden Section Haimo Award for Distinguished College or University Teaching in 2022 and the Rosemary and Matthew Spitzer Distinguished Science Faculty Award in 2023.

  • Professor Oliver’s teaching focuses on rigorous, inclusive, and active learning in undergraduate and graduate mathematics. He also mentors students in collaborative research, helping them develop advanced mathematical, scientific-writing, and presentation skills while preparing for graduate study and mathematics-related careers. His research spans two broad areas:

    • Nonlinear wave and Klein–Gordon equations on curved and expanding spacetimes, with applications to general relativity.

    • Mathematics education, particularly the department-wide implementation of active learning through communities of practice, course coordination, and shared curriculum.

  • Ph.D. in Pure Mathematics, University of California, San DiegoMaster of Arts in Pure Mathematics, University of California, Los AngelesBachelors of Science in Pure Mathematics, University of California, Los Angeles

  • Fall Semester 2026

    Course #SecCourse TitleDaysFromToLocationCampus
    MATH 38501Systems of Diff EqsTTH11:00AM12:15PMSC-N108Hayward Campus
    MATH 28501Intro to Diff EqsTTH1:15PM2:30PMBC-0270Hayward Campus
    MATH 33101Analysis IITTH2:45PM4:00PMBC-0270Hayward Campus
    MATH 69201Math Comp Exam CapstoneARRARRHayward Campus

  • Wave Equations Research

    2026 — J. L. Costa, J. Oliver, and F. Rossetti. “Global Existence for a Fritz John Equation in Expanding FLRW Spacetimes.” Preprint, arXiv:2603.02307.

    2024 — J. McCollum, G. Mwamba, and J. Oliver. “A Sufficient Condition for Blowup of the Nonlinear Klein–Gordon Equation with Positive Initial Energy in FLRW Spacetimes.” Nonlinear Analysis, 246, 113582. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.na.2024.113582

    2023 — J. L. Costa, A. T. Franzen, and J. Oliver. “Semilinear Wave Equations on Accelerated Expanding FLRW Spacetimes.” Annales Henri Poincaré, 24(9), 3185–3207. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00023-023-01319-9

    2023 — P. G. LeFloch, J. Oliver, and Y. Tsutsumi. “Boundedness of the Conformal Hyperboloidal Energy for a Wave–Klein–Gordon Model.” Journal of Evolution Equations, 23, Article 75. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00028-023-00925-8

    2020 — J. Oliver and J. Sterbenz. “A Vector Field Method for Radiating Black Hole Spacetimes.” Analysis & PDE, 13(1), 29–92. https://doi.org/10.2140/apde.2020.13.29

    2016 — J. Oliver. “A Vector Field Method for Non-Trapping, Radiating Spacetimes.” Journal of Hyperbolic Differential Equations, 13(4), 735–790. https://doi.org/10.1142/S021989161650020X

    Mathematics Education Research

    2025 — J. Oliver, J. Olkin, and S. Sisneros-Thiry. “Leveraging a Community of Practice Model to Accelerate Change.” PRIMUS, 35(4–5), 460–478. https://doi.org/10.1080/10511970.2024.2354811

    2024 — A. Stanciulescu, F. Castronovo, and J. Oliver. “Assessing the Impact of Visualization Media on Engagement in an Active Learning Environment.” International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology, 55(5), 1150–1170. https://doi.org/10.1080/0020739X.2022.2044530

    2023 — J. Oliver, J. Olkin, and A. Stanciulescu. “A Multi-Pronged Approach for Closing Opportunity Gaps in Calculus.” In Justice Through the Lens of Calculus: Framing New Possibilities for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, MAA Notes 96, pp. 317–326. Mathematical Association of America. View volume

    2021 — J. Oliver and J. Olkin. “A Community of Practice Model for Infusing Active Learning in the Classroom.” PRIMUS, 31(3–5), 252–268. https://doi.org/10.1080/10511970.2020.1746452

  • Wave Equations Research Talks

    2026 — Invited talk, AIM UP! Research Experience for Undergraduates, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.

    2026 — “Global Existence for a Fritz John Equation in Expanding FLRW Spacetimes.” Analysis and PDE Seminar, University of California, Berkeley.

    2025 — “The Wave Equation on FLRW Spacetimes.” Physics and Astronomy Colloquium, California State University, Sacramento.

    2024 — “A Vector Field Method for Semilinear Wave Equations on FLRW Spacetimes.” Mathematical Relativity Seminar, Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.

    2024 — Invited talk, MSRI Undergraduate Program (MSRI-UP), Simons Laufer Mathematical Sciences Institute, Berkeley, California.

    2023 — Mathematics Colloquium, Sonoma State University.

    2019 — AMS Sectional Meeting, Special Session on “Wave Phenomena in Fluids and Relativity,” University of Wisconsin–Madison.

    2019 — Mathematics Colloquium, Santa Clara University.

    2018 — General Relativity Seminar, Centre for Mathematical Analysis, Geometry, and Dynamical Systems, Lisbon, Portugal.

    2017 — Mathematics and Statistics Colloquium, San José State University.

    2016 — Workshop on Global Nonlinear Stability of Einstein Spacetimes, Oberwolfach, Germany.

    2015 — Mathematical General Relativity Seminar, Institut Henri Poincaré, Paris, France.

    2015 — General Relativity and Gravitation: A Centennial Perspective, Pennsylvania State University.

    2015 — Analysis Seminar, Georgia Southern University.

    2015 — Analysis Seminar, University of Maryland, College Park.

    2015 — Analysis Seminar, University of California, Los Angeles.

    2015 — Analysis and PDE Seminar, University of California, Berkeley.

    2014 — AMS Fall Western Sectional Meeting, San Francisco, California.

    2014 — Differential Equations Seminar, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

    2014 — Analysis Seminar, University of California, Los Angeles.

    2014 — Analysis Seminar, University of California, San Diego.

    2014 — AMS Session on Partial Differential Equations, Joint Mathematics Meetings, Baltimore, Maryland.

    Mathematics Education Research Talks and Workshops

    2024 — “Dynamic Calendars.” Eliminating Mathematics Barriers workshop, Washington, DC.

    2024 — “Bringing Innovation to Scale: Teaching-Focused Faculty as Change Agents.” Critical Issues in Mathematics Education, Simons Laufer Mathematical Sciences Institute, Berkeley, California.

    2023 — Joint Mathematics Meetings, Special Session on “Lessons Learned from Successful Departmental Efforts to Transform Precalculus and Calculus,” Boston, Massachusetts.

    2022 — “Community at the Center: The CSUEB Model and How It Can Help.” Change DIAL Conference, parallel session.

    2022 — “Community at the Center: How Communities of Practice Can Help.” Critical Issues in Mathematics Education, Mathematical Sciences Research Institute, Berkeley, California. Joint presentation with J. Olkin.

    2020 — “How to Disaggregate Student Data.” SEMINAL Data Workshop, virtual session. Joint presentation with A. Stanciulescu.

    2020 — MAA Contributed Paper Session on Active Learning in Introductory Courses, Joint Mathematics Meetings, Denver, Colorado.

    2019 — Progress Through Calculus/SEMINAL Joint Meeting, Lincoln, Nebraska.

  • Grants, Fellowships, and Awards

    2025–2026 — Co-PI and CSUEB Principal Investigator, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science RENEW Award, “Nuclear Physics California Connection to Train Undergraduate Students (Nuclear Physics CACTUS).” Award No. DE-SC0025746; CSUEB award: $187,194.

    2023–2026 — AMS-Simons Research Enhancement Grant for Primarily Undergraduate Institution Faculty.

    2023 — Rosemary and Matthew Spitzer Distinguished Science Faculty Award, California State University, East Bay College of Science.

    2022 — Haimo Award for Distinguished Teacher of College or University Mathematics, Mathematical Association of America, Golden Section.

    2019–2022 — Faculty Support Grant, California State University, East Bay.

    2018–2022 — SEMINAL Phase 2 Grant, National Science Foundation.

    2017–2018 — Faculty Support Grant, California State University, East Bay.

    2017–2018 — Course Redesign with Technology Grant, California State University Chancellor’s Office.

    2016–2017 — Research in Pairs, Institut Henri Poincaré, Paris, France.

    2016 — Postdoctoral Fellowship, Institut Henri Poincaré–Agence Nationale de la Recherche, Paris, France.

  • Academic and Professional Service

    Departmental Leadership and Service

    2026 — Interim Chair, Department of Mathematics, Spring semester.

    2023–2026 — Graduate Program Coordinator, Department of Mathematics: academic year 2023–2024; Spring and Fall 2025; and Fall 2026.

    2023–Present — Calculus Course Coordinator, excluding the Fall 2024 sabbatical semester.

    2022–Present — Retention, Tenure, and Promotion Committee. Committee chair in Spring 2024, Spring 2025, and Fall 2025; member throughout the review period except during the Fall 2024 sabbatical.

    2022–Present — Department Scholarship Committee.

    2021–2023 — Mathematics Faculty Search Committees, academic years 2021–2022 and 2022–2023.

    2016–Present — Undergraduate and graduate student advising, including academic advising, research mentoring, graduate-school preparation, and career guidance.

    College and University Service

    2026 — Faculty Affairs Committee Outstanding Professor/Week of Recognition Faculty Awards Subcommittee.

    2026 — 3-/4-Unit Course Task Force, Executive Committee of the Academic Senate.

    Professional Service

    2027, forthcoming — Organizer, SLMath Special Session on PROOF Working Groups.

  • 2016 - MAA Project NExT Fellow

    2014 - Moreno Valley College Young Alum of the Year