Author Archives: Allison Henrich

Gordon Ernest Keller, by Jen Bowen

Posted on October 19, 2021 by Allison Henrich

Gordon Ernest Keller (1939-2003) Age 64, born on January 31, 1939 in Buffalo, NY and raised in Depew, NY, died on July 5, 2003, in Charlottesville, Virginia. Gordon received his Ph.D. in Mathematics from California Institute of Technology in 1965. … Continue reading →

Posted in Grad school, Grief | 2 Comments

A view of mathematics from behind the veil (unabridged) by Robin Wilson

Posted on September 29, 2021 by Allison Henrich

Editorial Note: In the book, Living Proof: Stories of Resilience Along the Mathematical Journey, Robin Wilson shared his story. His original essay was too long to include in the book, given its format. We’re grateful to Robin for allowing us … Continue reading →

Posted in Gatekeepers, Racism | Comments Off

How challenging experiences led me to pursue a PhD in Mathematics by Shanise Walker

Posted on September 14, 2021 by Allison Henrich

As a student graduating high school, I was convinced of one thing: I was going to be a high school mathematics teacher. Everything I had done in high school and the inspiration and encouragement I received from teachers, family, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Racism | 1 Comment

Encounters with Gatekeepers, by Jen Bowen, Allison Henrich, and Chawne Kimber

Posted on August 17, 2021 by Allison Henrich

Teachers, mentors, guidance counselors, program directors, and admissions officers all have the ability to provide us with opportunities and guide us along our paths. These same people can also act as gatekeepers, offering a leg up to those fortunate enough … Continue reading →

Posted in Gatekeepers, Gender Discrimination | Comments Off

Turning a Passion for Pints into Perseverance by Matthew Fields

Posted on August 2, 2021 by Allison Henrich

I would assume that my math journey started much like everyone else in this country, learning to count in grade school and progressing from there. But that is probably where the majority of similarities end. By the time I was … Continue reading →

Posted in Math anxiety, Math is hard | Comments Off

Bad Handwriting in an Artist’s World by Isaac Weiss

Posted on July 6, 2021 by Allison Henrich

At the time of writing this, my first vaccine appointment is mere hours away. I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about this moment, slowly waiting for it to arrive. The end of the pandemic is just beyond the horizon … Continue reading →

Posted in Disability | Comments Off

Homeless for the General, by Jeff Brown

Posted on June 9, 2021 by Allison Henrich

I share with my students that I was homeless at the time I started the general exam for my PhD candidacy. That item comes in a list of several bits of personal trivia, some of them bizarre, none of them … Continue reading →

Posted in Qualifying Exams | Comments Off

The Qual, by Dana Williams

Posted on May 21, 2021 by Allison Henrich

Back in the day, Berkeley had more graduate students than it could keep track of. It certainly had more than it could support financially. Oddly, if you didn’t have some financial support from the University, it wasn’t even necessary to … Continue reading →

Posted in Grad school | Comments Off

False Starts, by Tiffany Eaton

Posted on April 30, 2021 by Allison Henrich

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled. And then it got dark and scary, and I ran back and went down the other one. I never had to work too hard at my math … Continue reading →

Posted in Leaving academia, Mental Health Struggles | Comments Off

What’s your biggest academic or professional moment? by Houssein El Turkey

Posted on April 13, 2021 by Allison Henrich

During our research retreats, my research group, Creativity Research Group (CRG), uses our lunch/dinner breaks to get personal. To facilitate our discussions in a fun relaxed way, we have often used the New York Times article “The 36 Questions That … Continue reading →

Posted in Job market struggles | Comments Off