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Luka Mernik

Assistant Professor

Dr. Luka Mernik joined Florida Polytechnic University as an assistant professor in August 2024. Prior to this, he was a postdoctoral fellow at Oklahoma State University from 2021-2023, where he taught various math classes. He also taught classes at Columbus state Community College during the 2020-2021 academic year.

Mernik said he became interested in math during a high school Olympiad prep course in which he explored higher level topics and his eyes were opened to “the beauty and richness of mathematics.” He said he wants to share that excitement and appreciation of math with his students.

He is originally from Slovenia and moved to the United States in 2007 during his high school years. He is a lifelong tennis player, taking on some of the best players as an NCAA division 3 player in college.

When not in the classroom, Mernik loves going on walks with his cockapoo, Riemann. He also enjoys cooking and eating different cuisines.

Awards and Honors

  • Arts and Sciences Distinguished Teaching Award Finalist, Oklahoma State University, 2023
  • Phil Huneke Distinguished Graduate Teaching Associate Award, The Ohio State University, 2019
  • Tibor Rad´o Graduate Fellowship Award, The Ohio State University, 2014

Education

  • Ph.D. in Mathematics, The Ohio State University, 2020
  • M.S. in Mathematics, The Ohio State University, 2017
  • B.S. in Mathematics, California Institute of Technology, 2014

Expertise

  • Several Complex Variables
  • Complex Analysis and Geometry
  • Complex Dynamics, Fractals

Professional Activities

  • Member, American Mathematical Society (AMS)
Select Publications
  • Lebl J., Mernik L., On Segre degenerate Levi-flat Hypervarieties, https://arxiv.org/abs/2306.07259. Accepted for publication in Arkiv for Matematik
  • Mernik L., Local Plurisubharmonic Defining Functions on the Boundary, Pacific Journal of Mathematics, 2020, vol. 307-1, pp. 221–238. DOI: 10.2140/pjm.2020.307.221.
  • McNeal J. D., Mernik L., Regular Versus Singular Order of Contact on Pseudoconvex Hypersurfaces, The Journal of Geometric Analysis, 2018, 28,2653-2669 DOI: 10.1007/s12220-017-9926-9.
  • Cosper D. J., Houghton J., Mayer J. C., Mernik L., Olson J. W., Central strips of sibling leaves in laminations of the unit disk. Topology Proceedings, ISSN 0146-4124, 2016, vol. 48, pp. 69-100. arXiv:1408.0223.
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Session Details

This session will demonstrate that practical risk management is for everyone, regardless of a formal program. Attendees will learn actionable and simple strategies that are easy to implement, enabling them to start immediately by focusing on their top risks to build greater operational resilience and ensure the sustained success of their auxiliary enterprises.

Presenter Profile

Michelle Powell serves as the pioneering Risk Manager at Florida Polytechnic University, the state’s sole 100% STEM-dedicated institution. Having been with the university for nearly 11 years, Michelle transitioned from a leadership role in Admissions in October 2023 to establish and evolve the risk management function from the ground up. In this solo capacity, Michelle builds robust frameworks for our dynamic, young university, overseeing our insurance portfolio, consulting on third-party and event risks, and developing critical campus-wide training programs. Michelle has obtained the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (COSO) Enterprise Risk Management certificate and the Associate in Risk Management (ARM) and Construction Risk and Insurance Specialist (CRIS) designations. Her distinct background in mathematics and engineering, combined with extensive higher education leadership, brings an analytical and strategic approach enhancing the institution’s resilience.