Professor Fabiana Cardetti (Co-PI) with other members of the program team organized the inaugural event for the NSF funded Connecticut Noyce Math Teacher Leaders (MTL) program which was hosted this past Saturday March 19th at the Connecticut Association of Schools in Cheshire, CT.

The five-year program is a partnership between the Department of Mathematics, the Neag School of Education, and the Connecticut State Department of Education designed to build capacity for math teacher leadership across Connecticut. The event marked the official start of the program with a celebration for the cohort of 20 secondary math teachers, MTL Fellows, who are embarking in the five-year program.

The kickoff event featured welcoming remarks by Guest Speakers, including Charlene Russell-Tucker, Commissioner of Connecticut Department of Education; Jason Irizarry, Dean of Neag School of Education; Ambar Sengupta, Head of Department of Mathematics; and Georgina Rivera Vice President for the National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics. A Keynote address was given by Steve Leinwand, Math Education Change Agent, principal researcher at AIR, and experienced leader in mathematics education.

The Department of Mathematics is excited to be a part of this innovative initiative, expanding mathematics teacher leadership and supporting equitable access to high-quality mathematics education for all students.

Congratulations MTL Fellows!

(photo credits/Shawn Kornegay)

We are delighted to announce that Vasilis Chousionis has been named the new Makuch Faculty Fellow (January 2022-December 2023). This fellowship was instituted through a generous donation by UConn Math alum Robert Makuch.

We are pleased to introduce Nathaniel Abbott, who joins our Department as Educational Program Manager.

Please join us in welcoming him aboard!

To get to know Nathaniel a bit better, we asked him a few questions.

Where are you from?

I’m originally from Ohio. My family moved around a lot when I was a kid so I don’t call any specific state home (but I do consider Tennessee my favorite). In no specific order, I have lived in Ohio, Alabama, North Carolina, New Jersey, Texas, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Connecticut. While I do prefer the southern culture, I see myself in Connecticut for the foreseeable future because I love what I do here at UConn.

Where did you go to school?

I received my B.S. from Southern Adventist University in Film Production with an emphasis in business. I had originally been enthralled with the entertainment industry and worked on television commercials and promotional content before realizing I wanted more than it could offer. So I decided to obtain my M.A. in Organizational Leadership from Concordia University Chicago and have been working towards my goal of program manager ever since.

How long have you worked at UConn?

I started working at UConn in March 2020 while still living in Alabama. I moved here in June during Connecticut’s lockdown which was quite the transition. But I have been working in the business and educational industries for the past 13 years.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

General free time is enjoyed on the couch with my dog, Renly, reading a good Mitch Rapp or Jack Reacher novel—perhaps even watching Westworld season 1 for the 10th time. I also appreciate the satisfaction I get from my home improvement projects. My vacations generally consists of going south to Alabama to visit family or the Smokey Mountains which is my go-to spot. There’s nothing like Gatlinburg, TN in the northeast but I certainly enjoy the nearby rural mountainous area and am still looking for a favorite weekend camp site.

What do you look forward to in this new position?

I always look forward to the challenge. Doing a great job in support of an office and department requires commitment to both self and team. It’s quite the balancing act because work is interesting, challenging, and always changing—it’s definitely not for everyone. You certainly benefit from discipline, relationship building, and openness to learning, as they are intrinsic to the profession. While there may be cyclical tasks, the majority of duties vary, as do the people you assist, in an evermoving live pattern that makes no day exactly the same. And while sometimes the day-to-day pressures with deadlines looming and random department requests may stack up to make a normal person go crazy, that’s where the balancing act and love for the job shines because I’m excited to be a part of something that isn’t just a “business-as-usual” role.

 

We are very saddened to have to report that our colleague Mark Naigles passed away yesterday, December 30, 2021. The news comes as a great shock to those of us who have been working with him closely and for all who have known him for years. Mark taught for the Math Department as adjunct faculty for many years and this year came on board as full-time faculty.

Mark was known for his passion for teaching and for the warmth of his personality. Many of us will have memories to share, which we plan to post on our website. From Department Head Ambar Sengupta: “I had extensive conversations with Mark well before coming to UConn and he was kind enough to send me a lot of helpful information about the area. Earlier this month I ran into Mark in a near-empty Monteith building, and we had a pleasant chat. He was thinking of writing a song for an event we talked about.”

Mark, you will be deeply missed!

A memorial service open to all (masks required) will be held for Mark on Sunday, January 2nd, 1pm, at UConn Hillel (54 North Eagleville Road).