I grew up in Meridian, Idaho, having spent my youth as a dedicated Girl Scout and student. I graduated from the University of Idaho (in Moscow, Idaho) with degrees in Biological Systems Engineering and Mathematics. From UI I went to the University of California, Davis (near Sacramento) to complete a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics. My research focused on computational mathematical biology and numerical analysis.

I then made my way to San Francisco State University as the Program Director of Outreach and Student Success from 2009 – 2014. In this position, I was the Director of the San Francisco Math Circle, the Co-Director of the SFSU (CM)^2 NSF GK12 program, and the Co-Director of the Bay Area Circle for Teachers. At the same time, I was working for the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute (now the Simons Laufer Mathematical Sciences Institute in Berkeley) to establish the National Association of Math Circles, a national support structure for mathematical outreach programs.

From 2014-2023, I was faculty at Central Washington University (Ellensburg, WA). At CWU I helped design the CWU Applied Math program, established the Kittitas Valley Math Circle, created the Central Convergence REU program, and worked for a period as the CWU Director of Undergraduate Research. I also co-created the Journal of Math Circles for national publication recognition of outreach work.

In 2024, I moved to the College of Idaho as an Associate Professor. My current interests include supporting my students’ mathematical exploration, supporting the growth of Math Circles, and broader national research on the impact of Math Circles.

I am currently the Editor in Chief of the Journal of Math Circles. https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/mathcirclesjournal/, the vice-chair of the Congress of the Mathematical Association of America, and an Aunt to my awesome nephew.

EDUCATION

Ph.D., Applied Mathematics, University of California, Davis (Davis, CA), 2008

Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, University of Idaho (Moscow, ID), 2002

Bachelor of Science in Biological Systems Engineering, University of Idaho (Moscow, ID), 2002

Annual Rocky Mountain Conference for Latin American Studies, March 2021,“The Roots of Discontent” The People Who Made the Junta Protectora de las Clases Menesterosas, 1865-1867.”

Annual Rocky Mountain Conference for Latin American Studies, April 2019, “Maximilian of Habsburg and his ‘Ethnic Cleansing’ Policies in Mexico during the French Intervention, 1862-1867.”

“The Junta Protectora de las Clases Menesterosas and the Revival of the Juzgado General de Indios in Nineteenth-Century Mexico.”