Chepina Rumsey

Chepina Rumsey

Chepina Rumsey, PhD, is an associate professor of mathematics education at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) in Cedar Falls. She is a former elementary school teacher who loves learning alongside her students and integrating subject areas. At UNI, she supports elementary and early childhood majors as they prepare to teach mathematics in their own future classrooms. Chepina focuses her research on mathematical argumentation and learning mathematics in elementary classrooms through exploration and building on students’ natural curiosity and wonder.

In addition to teaching, Chepina leads professional development initiatives in many states, supporting K–5 teachers as they integrate best practices related to mathematical argumentation, problem solving, early algebraic thinking, and number sense in their classrooms. She presents at state, national, and international conferences to share ideas and learn from others. Chepina also contributes as a consultant for curriculum development companies to write lessons and review materials.

Chepina’s research has been published in Cognition and Instruction, Mathematics Teacher: Learning and Teaching PK–12, Journal of Mathematical Behavior, School Science and Mathematics, Teaching Children Mathematics, The Reading Teacher, and a chapter in Conceptions and Consequences of Argumentation, Justification, and Proof.

Chepina received bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and elementary education from Keene State College in Keene, New Hampshire, a master’s degree in mathematics from Illinois State University, and a doctorate in mathematics education from Illinois State University.