Dennis C. Smolarski, S.J.'s Personal Information Page
Curriculum Vitæ
DENNIS C. SMOLARSKI, S.J.
Born: September 2, 1947, Harvey, Illinois
Mailing Address:
Rev. Dennis C. Smolarski, S.J.
Jesuit Community
Santa Clara University
500 El Camino Real
Santa Clara, CA 95053-1600
Work Address:
Rev. Dennis C. Smolarski, S.J.
Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
Santa Clara University
500 El Camino Real
Santa Clara, CA 95053-0290
Office (Math/CS Department) Phone Number: 408 - 554-4174
Math/CS Department Phone Number: 408 - 554-4525
Math/CS Department FAX Number: 408 - 554-2370
Jesuit Community Phone Number: 408 - 554-4124
Jesuit Community FAX Number: 408 - 554-4795
E-mail Address:
dsmolarski@scu.edu
Homepage URL:
https://webpages.scu.edu/ftp/dsmolarski
(Publication links:
Also given below.
)
Education:
- B.S. (Mathematics) June, 1969
Santa Clara University
- M.A. (Mathematics) June, 1975
University of California, Santa Barbara
- M.Div. [Master of Divinity] March, 1979
Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley
- S.T.M. [Master of Sacred Theology] (Liturgy/Worship) June, 1979
Thesis title: Eucharistia: A study and digest of
contemporary writings on the structure and nature
of the Eucharistic Prayer.
Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley
- Ph.D. (Computer Science) May, 1982
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Doctoral Areas of Specialization (University of Illinois)
- General Exams (written) passed in the four areas of Theory
of Computation, Software, Numerical Analysis, and
Computer Structure and Logic Design.
- Qualifying Exam (oral) passed in the area of Software.
- Dissertation area was Numerical Analysis.
- Dissertation director was Paul E. Saylor.
- Dissertation title: Optimum Semi-Iterative Methods for the
Solution of Any Linear Algebraic System with a Square
Matrix.
Dissertation Abstract
In 1975, T. A. Manteuffel developed a method for the iterative
solution of a non-symmetric linear system, Ax = b,
when the eigenvalues have positive real parts. The iterative
parameters are reciprocals of the roots of a scaled and
translated Chebyshev polynomial and depend upon an ellipse
enclosing the spectrum of the system matrix.
In some applications, a matrix will occur whose spectrum is
not well approximated by an ellipse. In this thesis, a method is
developed to determine optimal iteration parameters for use in a
complex version of Richardson's iteration for a spectrum
contained in any simply-connected bounded open set (in practice,
a polygon symmetric with respect to the real axis).
The proposed method is a generalization of algorithms found
in a 1958 paper of E. L. Stiefel in which real orthogonal
polynomials were used. In this thesis, Stiefel's work is
extended to complex orthogonal and bi-orthogonal polynomials. In
addition, numerical methods are developed to obtain the desired
iteration parameters by means of least squares theory. Results
are presented which show that the methods of this thesis compare
favorably to Manteuffel's method and the Lanczos algorithm for
test matrices whose spectra had pre-determined shapes.
Employment
- University Teaching
- Instructor, 1975-1976, seven 40-hour courses
Department of Mathematics, Santa Clara University
- Teaching Assistant, 1979-1980,
Department of Computer Science, University of Illinois
Fall 1979 --- T.A. for CS105 [one of five TAs]
Spring 1980 --- Head T.A. for CS105
- Assistant Professor, 1982-1988,
Department of Mathematics, Santa Clara University
- Associate Professor, 1988-2006,
Department of Mathematics, Santa Clara University
- Professor, 2006,
Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Santa Clara University
(Specializing in Computer Science)
Note: in April 1998, the Department expanded its official designation
to "The Department of Mathematics and Computer Science."
- University Administration
- Chair, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, September
2008-August 2014.
- Director, Campus Ministry, July 2018-June 2021.
- University Student Services: Resident Minister
(Resident Religious Counsellor in Student Resident Halls.)
Santa Clara University, 1982-89, 90-93.
University Committee Assignments
- Student Life Judicial Council (Sept 1982-84)
- Valedictorian Selection Committee (April 1982-84)
- Faculty Senate Council
- At Large Representative (1983-84)
- Arts and Sciences At Large Representative (1986-88)
- Vice President for Elections (1986-88)
- Fulbright-Hays Fellowship Committee (Sept 1984-Dec 1988)
- Affirmative Action Committee (Sept 1984-88)
- Athletic Board of Governance (Sept 1988-90) [Reconstituted as the
"Athletic Advisory Board" in 1990.]
- Faculty Affairs (Appeals) Board (Jan 1989-92)
- Athletic Advisory Board (Sept 1990-93)
- Vice-Chair [Recording Secretary] (1990-92)
- Rank and Tenure Committee, College of Arts and Sciences, Science
Departments
- Sept 1991-94. Chair 1992-93.
- Sept 1995-June 1996 (resigned because of sabbatical 1996-97)
- Sept 1997-2000. Chair 1998-99 and 1999-2000.
- Ad Hoc Search Committee for the Director of Information Technology,
Chair (April 1992-May 1993)
- Program Council for B.S. in Combined Sciences (Sept 1992-June 2000)
- University Coordinator for Jesuit Mission and Identity Programs,
(January 1994-June 2002)
- University Core Curriculum Subcommittee on Technology (Feb 1994-June 2000)
- University World Wide Web ad hoc Advisory Group (Fall 1995-June 2000)
- Academic Affairs Committee (Fall 1997-Spring 1998)
- Faculty Handbook Revision Committee (Spring 1998-May 2002)
- University Co-Coordinator for New Faculty Orientation (July 2000-June 2002)
- Core Curriculum Committee (Jan 2001-June 2002)
- Grievance Committee for the Sciences (Jan 2006-Dec 2008)
Non-University Service Positions
- The Mathematical Association of America (MAA)
Northern California Section
- Vice-Chair -- 1990-91
- Chair -- 1991-92
- Program Chair -- 1992-93
- Jesuits for the Christian East
- Secretary-Treasurer -- 1993-2005
- Diocese of San José, Liturgical Commission member, January
2007-December 2011.
- Board of Directors, Weston Jesuit (Ecclesiastical Faculty at Boston
College, School of Theology and Ministry), member, Fall 2008-Spring
2014.
- The International Jungmann Society for Jesuits and the
Liturgy
- Vice-President -- 2014-2016
- President -- 2016-2018
- Past-President -- 2018-2022
Awards and Honors
- Award for Distinguished College or University Teaching of
Mathematics (in recognition of extraordinarily successful teaching),
The Mathematical Association of America (MAA), The Northern
California, Nevada, and Hawaii Section, February 27, 2010.
- 2010 book, Eucharist and American Culture (Paulist Press),
won first place in the Liturgy category among awards given by the
Catholic Press Association for books published in 2010.
Membership in Learned and Professional Societies
- The Mathematical Association of America (MAA)
- The American Mathematical Society (AMS)
- The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
- The Fibonacci Association (1976-79)
- The Alcuin Club (British Liturgical Society)
- Pi Mu Epsilon National Honorary Mathematics Fraternity
California Eta Chapter (Santa Clara University)
Missouri Gamma Chapter (St. Louis University)
- Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society
University of Illinois Chapter
Santa Clara University Club
- Institute for Theological Encounter with Science and
Technology (ITEST) (1990-2000)
- Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility (CPSR)
- North American Association of Jesuit Scientists
- Jesuits for the Christian East
- International Jungmann Society for Jesuits and the Liturgy
Religious Biographical Synopsis
- Entered the Society of Jesus ["Jesuits"] (Religious Order of the
Roman Catholic Church) on September 7, 1969.
- Profession of first vows in the Society of Jesus on September 8,
1971.
- Ordained deacon by Bishop John Cummins of Oakland on
November 18, 1978.
- Ordained priest by Cardinal Timothy Manning of Los Angeles
on June 16, 1979.
- Profession of final vows in the Society of Jesus on May 27, 1990.
- Granted an indult of bi-ritual faculties for the
Byzantine rite (permitted to minister to Eastern [Byzantine]
Catholics [Ukrainian, Russian, Ruthenian, Melkite-Lebanese, etc.]
according to their special ritual books and customs).
Publications
My email address is
dsmolarski "at" scu.edu
This information page last updated 8 April 2022.