Add to ORKGthis work would not have been accomplished. From classes and reading to research and writing, he has been a patient teacher over the many years, interested in and helpful with every detail, guiding me to greater understanding. He has given me the freedom to explore while his suggestions and insights have called me back to the path of progress. I am thankful to have studied under his sound direction. I would like to thank my other committee members: to Sergey Fomin for intro-ducing me to symmetric functions in his class; to Andreas Blass for serving on my Preliminary Exam committee as well and for pointing out that when my parents explain my graduate work they can simply say that I counted to one or two; to Thomas Lam for his careful reading...