| Sam Vandervelde | |
| Birth Date: | February 12, 1971 |
| Nationality: | American |
| Field: | Mathematics |
| Work Institutions: | Art of Problem Solving, Proof School |
| Alma Mater: | University of Chicago |
| Known For: | Mandelbrot Competition, Proof School |
Samuel Kendrick Vandervelde (born 12 February 1971) is a mathematician who, along with Sandor Lehoczky and Richard Rusczyk, created the Mandelbrot Competition,[1] and is listed first under "Thanks" in the mathematical textbook The Art of Problem Solving.[2]
Vandervelde contributes problems to the USA Math Olympiad. He was a member of the 1989 United States International Mathematical Olympiad team. He was a grader at the Mathematical Olympiad Program, an intensive summer camp that prepares top high school students for the International Math Olympiad. Vandervelde founded the Stanford Math Circle.[3] He was on the math faculty at St. Lawrence University from 2007 to 2015, and is currently the Head of School and math teacher at Proof School, a private day school in San Francisco for kids who love math.[4] He is also a regular instructor at and board member of MathPath,[5] and has published two books, Bridge to Higher Mathematics[6] and Circle in a Box. His educational work has been recognized by the Mathematical Association of America's Edyth May Sliffe Award for high school teaching (2000)[7] and the Henry L. Alder Award for collegiate teaching (2011).[8]
His other interests include playing soccer, spending time with his two sons, and cooking. He attended Amherst County High School.[9] [10] He received his undergraduate degree from Swarthmore College and doctoral degree from the University of Chicago in June 2004. He currently resides in California. He is married to Eunice Cheung.[9]
. Sam Vandervelde . 2009 . Circle in a Box.
. Sam Vandervelde . 2010 . Bridge to Higher Mathematics.