Concordia Nebraska Associate Professor of Mathematics Dr. Brian Albright prepares for textbook’s third edition release

Concordia University, Nebraska Associate Professor of Mathematics Dr. Brian Albright’s first textbook, Mathematical Modeling with Excel, began in 2005 as a series of notes written for Albright’s mathematical modeling class at the university. By 2008, he had written enough notes to put together a textbook, so he partnered with publisher Jones and Bartlett to create his first edition, which was published in 2009. He immediately began using it in his class.

In 2017, Albright began working with another publisher, CRC Press, on the second edition of the book along with a co-author William P. Fox.

“Fox was the author of the mathematical modeling textbook I used as an undergraduate,” said Albright. “In the second edition, we revised several sections, added numerous exercises and added a chapter. The cover art was drawn by a student of mine, Jessica Wang. Many of the new exercises were inspired by projects done by my students.”

“Many of the new exercises were inspired by projects done by my students.”

In 2025 the publisher contacted Albright and Fox about writing a third edition.

“William Fox and I came up with a list of new topics to add, and we began working on them,” explained Albright. “I tested out some of these new topics in my mathematical modeling class this past spring. Early this summer, we worked on them more and added a new chapter to the book on decision theory.”

Albright said he and Fox will continue to make refinements throughout the summer, will write additional new exercises and will then submit the final manuscript in August.

Studying mathematics at Concordia University, Nebraska helps students develop basic skills such as arguing logically and rigorously, thinking abstractly, formulating and solving problems, analyzing data and creating and analyzing mathematical models. Math majors are in demand by employers for careers in a wide spectrum of fields. A bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Concordia University, provides students with a foundation in the mathematical sciences for teaching, graduate school or finding a career.