I am an educator who loves to make mathematics understandable to students. Hopefully once in a while I help students to not only understand how math works, but also to appreciate its usefulness, and maybe even get a glimpse of how mathematics is fascinating and beautiful and touches pretty much every aspect of our lives.

Even more, I love helping students stretch themselves beyond the classroom, perhaps working on a research project or leading a student club. If we want to grow, we need to try things that are hard and messy and might go wrong. We need to develop the courage to get off the sidelines and into the arena, whether that means speaking out for our convictions or learning something new. Yep, even if this means we risk judgment or failure. I try to model this for my students by taking on challenges that I am likely to suck or fail at. Some things I have started learning but I currently suck at are programming, American Sign Language, and data analytics.

I enjoy writing – I especially love editing. I enjoy twiddling for hours with a piece of writing trying to make it clear and concise and occasionally even compelling. Writing and mathematics aren’t in opposition to each other… each makes the other better and they thrive when used in tandem. If you can do math and write well, you will have a wealth of opportunities available to you.

I am grateful to be in the perfect environment to learn and try new things: a community college. We help anyone who comes in our doors. It doesn’t matter whether you just got out of high school, or if you’re on your second career or your fourth. Blue-collar or white-collar, GED or valedictorian, it doesn’t matter — everyone can grow and learn with us.

It’s never too late to start something new, and it doesn’t matter how fast you are. A few years ago I discovered the world of ultramarathons (that means long distances, think 50+ miles). I don’t run fast, but I can put one foot in front of the other for a really long time. Relentless forward motion, even at the slowest plod, is bound to get you somewhere eventually if you just don’t stop.

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