Steven J. Boyce, Ph.D.

About

I am an Associate Professor in the Fariborz Maseeh Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Portland State University. Prior to joining PSU in 2014, I earned my Ph.D. in Mathematics from Virginia Tech and taught secondary mathematics in Virginia public schools for five years.

My research focuses on modeling students' mathematical thinking, specifically middle-grades through undergraduate students' development of units coordinating activity, rational number schemes, and covariational reasoning. I also work extensively in mathematics teacher education, curriculum development, and secondary-to-postsecondary pathways.

Featured Program

Master of Science in Mathematics for Teachers (MSMTCH)

I serve as Chair of the MSMTCH Committee at Portland State University. The MSMTCH degree is designed specifically for current and prospective secondary and community college mathematics educators, blending advanced mathematical content with practical pedagogical insights.

Explore Program Details & Requirements →

Active Research & Recent Grants

Cognitive Learning Environments with AI Reflection (CLEAR)
PI | Portland State Faculty Development Grant (2026–2028)
Developing and piloting an AI agent for students to build math confidence and refresh prerequisite skills.
Cultivating Math Resilience
Senior Personnel | NSF DR-K12 (2024–2025)
Fostering a dual school-university partnership working to promote math confidence in post-pandemic education.
Teaching Mathematics with Technology (TMT-DS)
PI | PSU Faculty Enhancement Grant (2021–2023)
Integrating data science learning goals into secondary and community college mathematics courses.

Selected Publications

Boyce, S. (2024). Modeling quantitative and variational reasoning. In P. C. Dawkins, A. J. Hackenberg, & A. Norton (Eds.), Piaget’s genetic epistemology for mathematics education (pp. 413-445). Springer.
Boyce, S., MacDonald, B. L., & Hackenberg, A. (2024). Units construction and coordination: Past, present, and future. Investigations in Mathematics Learning, 16(3), 153-162.
An, T., Boyce, S., Brown, A., et al. (2024). (Toward) essential student learning objectives for teaching geometry to secondary preservice teachers. The AMTE Handbook of Mathematics Teacher Education (Vol. 5). Information Age Publishing.
Boyce, S., Grabhorn, J., & Byerley, C. (2021). Relating units coordination and calculus readiness. Mathematical Thinking and Learning, 23(3).

Teaching & Advising

At PSU, I teach undergraduate and graduate courses across mathematics education, geometry, analysis, and research methodology.

Doctoral & Master's Advising: Dissertation Chair for Ph.D. candidates in Mathematics Education and Project Adviser for MSMTCH students completing culminating work in secondary and postsecondary curriculum development.
Key Courses Taught: MTH 338 Modern College Geometry, MTH 4/583 Topics in Geometry for Teachers, MTH 690-696 Graduate Seminars in Research on Mathematics Learning/Teaching.