Martin Erickson (1963-2013) received his Ph.D in mathematics in 1987 from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA, studying with Thomas Frederick Storer. He joined the faculty in the Mathematics Department of Truman State University, Kirksville, Missouri, USA, when he was twenty-four years old, and remained there for the rest of his life. Professor Erickson authored and coauthored several mathematics books, including the first edition of Introduction to Number Theory (CRC Press, 2007), Pearls of Discrete Mathematics (CRC Press, 2010), and A Student's Guide to the Study, Practice, and Tools of Modern Mathematics (CRC Press, 2010).
Anthony Vazzana received his Ph.D in mathematics in 1998 from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA. He joined the faculty in the Mathematics Department of Truman State University, Kirksville, Missouri, USA, in 1998. In 2000, he was awarded the Governor's Award for Excellence in Teaching and was selected as the Educator