About Me

I was born and raised in Southern California. As a result, I fear no traffic, only rain. (I kid!) I studied in the Integral Liberal Arts Program at Saint Mary's College of California in Moraga, CA. The name of my program was adapted from the "Integrated Liberal Arts Program". A brief description of my major is a mix between history of math, history of science, philosophy, and classics majors rolled into one, all taught in the Socratic method.

After college, I studied in the Post-Baccalaureate Program at Smith College in Northampton, MA. This is a one-year bridge program for women who wish to pursue doctorates in mathematics and have a math minor/light math major background. After a gap year of working, I went on to earn my Ph.D. at Iowa State University in May 2017.

I've accumulated several hobbies over the years, some out of necessity and some for pure enjoyment! Here are some links to things I enjoy.

• Knitting. I like using patterns from Purl Bee. You can find functional and attractive pieces with well-written patterns. I started knitting when I moved the Midwest. Coincidence? Most certainly not.
• Powerlifting. BDYEL?? I started lifting the same time I started graduate school. This is a sport that requires very little hand-eye coordination. It's also empowering to tackle a homework set or research knowing you can achieve great feats of strength! Or strength of feet? Here's a resource I recommend for those interested in powerlifting: Starting Strength
• Cooking. I love to eat and graduate student stipends are mostly conducive for living, not dining out. Out of necessity and enjoyment, I cook a lot! For me, cooking is a like doing mathematics. You can build up beautiful theory from first principles just as you can create a beautiful meal from raw ingredients. I like Bon Appetit's YouTube for new recipes, techniques, and pure entertainment.
• The Golden Girls trivia. Arguably the best show ever made.
• Spending time with my very sassy dog Rook. Here's a link to his Instagram. This is rescue that connected me with Rook: Big East Akita Rescue. They have an Amazon Smile page and can also accept Paypal donations. Or if you are interested in adopting an Akita, they are a wonderful resource for interested families.