Rate My Professor Leo Livshits

Leo Livshits is Professor of Mathematics and Chair of the Mathematics Department at Colby College. He received his B.Mat. from the University of Waterloo in 1985, M.Sc. in Mathematics from the University of Toronto in 1986, and Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Toronto in 1991. His academic career includes positions as Assistant Professor at Central Michigan University from 1991 to 1992 and at Bishop’s University from 1992 to 1994. He joined Colby College in 1994 as Assistant Professor, was promoted to Associate Professor in 2001, and to full Professor in 2008. Additionally, he served as a Visiting Scholar at Carleton University from 1998 to 1999.

Livshits specializes in linear algebra and matrix theory, with expertise in matrix analysis and operator theory. His research explores topics such as positive matrix semigroups, paratransitive algebras of linear operators, and spatial versions of classical theorems in linear algebra. Key publications include “A Perron-Frobenius-type Theorem for Positive Matrix Semigroups” with Gordon MacDonald and Heydar Radjavi (Positivity, 2017), “Universal Bounds for Positive Matrix Semigroups” with MacDonald, Laurent Marcoux, and Radjavi (Studia Mathematica, 2016), “A Spatial Version of Wedderburn’s Principal Theorem” with the same co-authors (Linear and Multilinear Algebra, 2015), and “Paratransitive Algebras of Linear Operators II” and “Paratransitive Algebras of Linear Operators” (Linear Algebra and Its Applications, 2013). He teaches courses including Honors Calculus I, Honors Calculus II, and Topics in Real Analysis, and supervises student honors projects and research. Livshits has contributed to the department by initiating Colby's participation in the Putnam Competition and mentoring students in advanced mathematical topics.