91Â鶹ӳ»­

Pronouns: she/her 

Graduation year: 2006 

Hometown: Woodbridge, CT 

Currently living in: Alexandria, VA and Clinton, NY 

Current occupation: AAAS STPF fellow (2022-2023 in Congress; 2023-2024 at National Science Foundation) and Associate Professor of Mathematics at Hamilton College 

What was your experience like at 91Â鶹ӳ»­ as a Math major? 

I loved the Block Plan! I had dropped out of college after finishing my first year elsewhere before coming to 91Â鶹ӳ»­. When I got here, I thought I might major in French, but then I took Calc 3 in my first block and my whole first year schedule changed to be almost all math and computer science. I realized I loved math (and loved being mad at math!) and enjoyed the teamwork it takes to make real mathematical discoveries on a tight timeline. 

Why were you interested in focusing on math as your major? 

The math and CS professors felt like "my people" in ways I hadn't experienced before. They were excited about the things I was excited about. Thanks to the community I found in the faculty, paraprofessionals, and students, I felt like I had found a home in Tutt Science Center. (I even did my French homework there when I eventually did take a French class.) 

How are you using your major in your post-91Â鶹ӳ»­ life? 

I went on to get my Ph.D. in Math after 91Â鶹ӳ»­, and then I became a math professor - so my major was pretty directly relevant to that. But working in Congress last year, I used my math-on-the-Block-Plan skills to research an issue, draft legislation, negotiate with other offices, and all the other things Senate committee staffers do. Just like at 91Â鶹ӳ»­, my work last year required organizing priorities, working with teammates, and believing (really believing!) you can do anything in 18 days. At NSF, I'm enjoying a slightly less intense pace with deeper, more interesting math. It's the perfect blend of what I learned and how I learned it.