A little about me

I grew up in a small town in North Dakota, 50 miles south of the Canadian border.  The close-knit community created a bond in me that I will never part with. Various teenage/early career jobs and supportive education instilled the seemingly opposed values of self-reliance and community dependency that have stayed with me through many years.

​

I attended North Dakota State University in Fargo, ND, where I earned Bachelor's degrees in Mathematics and Mathematics Education.  I began my math degree wandering a little aimlessly. Toward the end of my degree, I took an applied math biology course, and as the saying goes, the bus came by, and I got on. The dedicated faculty at NDSU encouraged and supported my applications to graduate school, and I can honestly say that I would have never become a math Ph.D. student if it weren't for the excellent support and mentorship I received while at NDSU. Three professors: Drs. María de los Ángeles Alfonseca-Cubero; Artem Novozhilov; and Jim Coykendall were especially supportive and impactful early on during my mathematical maturation. 

 

Before attending graduate school, I student taught at Fargo South High School in the fall of 2014.  In the following spring, I taught at Fargo Shanley High School. In this abbreviated secondary teaching experience, I learned the challenges and rewards that go along with organizing and leading classes for diverse learners.

​

I started graduate school in the applied math program at the University of Iowa in the fall of 2015. While I fulfilled the requirements for my Master's degree en passant, I began my thesis research with Dr. Rodica Curtu at the beginning of 2017.  In the middle of my thesis work, I was fortunate to participate in the NSF-MSGI program working as a guest scientist at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in the summer of 2019.  I completed my Ph.D. in the spring of 2021.

​

Throughout my education, there has been a common theme of excellent mentorship and guidance. I look forward to providing that same mentorship to young academics as they navigate their own careers.

​

On a personal note, I enjoy most outdoor activities including hiking, biking, and leisure walks. I try my hand at gardening, but most times I mess something up. Recently, I have found composting to be an easier pastime for the whole family to enjoy.

​

I have also included obligatory pictures of my cat and dog.