About the Editors

Allison Henrich, Editor, is a Professor of Mathematics at Seattle University, where she has been a member of the faculty since 2009. She earned her PhD from Dartmouth College and bachelor’s degrees in both math and philosophy from the University of Washington. Allison is passionate about teaching, and she is active in research in knot theory and recreational math as well as the scholarship of teaching and learning. One of the most rewarding activities she engages in as a professor is working with undergraduate researchers. Through knot theory research, Allison mentors students—many of whom are unsure about their career goals—to help them learn what may and may not excite them about a career involving mathematical research. In general, she gets the most enjoyment out of supporting students to do their best work as they learn about the beauty of mathematics. Allison recognizes that she would not be where she is today without the inspiration and encouragement of several of her own undergraduate professors.

Matthew Pons, Co-Editor, is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Mathematics Department at North Central College, where he has been a faculty member since 2007.  He earned his PhD from the University of Virginia in 2007 and his undergraduate degree in 2002 from the University of North Carolina at Asheville. Matthew’s favorite professional activity is teaching and his approach to classroom learning is shaped largely by his faculty mentors as both an undergraduate and graduate student.  They taught with passion and enthusiasm, and they knew how to push a student to excel all the while providing guidance and support.  As an instructor, it is not always easy to watch students struggle with the challenges inherent in the study of mathematics.  But seeing students overcome these challenges is a constant source of inspiration for Matthew, not only in his teaching but also in his own research.

Jen Bowen, Associate Editor, earned her PhD at The University of Virginia in nonassociative algebra. She is a 2005 Project NExT Fellow and has been actively involved with Summer Mathematics Program for Women at Carleton College. She is currently an Associate Professor of Mathematics at The College of Wooster (Ohio), champion for women and underrepresented students in STEM, and mentor to 10 incredible Posse Scholars from Atlanta, Georgia.

 

Sarah Bryant is a Lecturer of Mathematics at Gettysburg College. She earned her PhD from Purdue University in 2009 and undergraduate degree from Berea College in 2002. Some of the most rewarding experiences in her career have been inside the classroom, but many have also been outside of it: from leading math circle activities at the Shippensburg Area Math Circle (co-founded with her husband Lance Bryant in 2015), to advocating for legislative priorities of the AWM on Capitol Hill, to being former Project Manager for the NSF ADVANCE grant STEMUP-PA.  Her interest in teaching was not innate but has grown through years of interactions with wise and wonderful students, who have helped her embrace both the vulnerability and the joy in mathematical work.

 

Susan Crook, Associate Editor, is an Associate Professor of Mathematics in the Division of Mathematics, Engineering and Computer Science at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa. A born and bred Tennessean, Susan earned a BA in French and a BS in Mathematics at the University of South Carolina. She proceeded to earn her MS and PhD in Applied Mathematics at North Carolina State University. Though her PhD research was in numerical analysis, Susan has more recently worked in number theory, focusing on happy numbers, with various subsets of her REUF group. Susan is an avid advocate of inquiry-based learning in mathematics classrooms and currently serves on the executive board of the IBL SIGMAA. During her first years teaching, Susan was greatly supported and buoyed by the advice of those in her Project NExT class (Brown 13) and their consultants. Given the chance, she’ll talk your ear off about the two of the best and most transformative experiences in her teaching career – participating in an REUF and attending an IBL workshop.

 

Anisah Nu’Man, Associate Editor, is an assistant professor of mathematics at Spelman College. Originally, from Atlanta, GA Dr. Nu’Man obtained her Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Her research interests lie in geometric group theory.