I just finished computing final grades for what is in all likelihood is the last course of my academic career. This feels big. I have been a college professor for more than 30 years. This is what I know and this is where I have succeeded.
I am drawn to opportunities to build something meaningful. Look at my time at UW Tacoma. I arrived 17 years ago after its transition to a 4-year institution and helped build a mathematics program. At yesterday’s Commencement ceremony , we celebrated our 2024 math graduates.
I have the best colleagues. We genuinely like each other, help one another, and care for our students’ welfare together. They prepared beautiful, meaningful, and original thanks that brought me to tears:
Why make a change now? It’s time for new challenges and I can’t imagine a better alignment of personal goals and institutional mission than working for the Seattle Universal Math Museum. I want everyone to enjoy mathematics. It can be hard at times and that is OK. It can be also fun (even when it is hard) and that is even better. So it’s time to roll up my sleeves, put on my thinking cap, and build a place where everyone sees themselves as a mathematician.
Where is that place? Everywhere. We bring math and games into the community—primarily for Pre-K-8th graders and their families. If you are in Seattle metropolitan region, please join our mailing list to see where we will pop-up next. The goal is to have a bricks and mortar location, ideally in South King County and accessible by public transportation. My job is to make sure we get there.
Obviously the focus of this blog is going to change as I move away from teaching. Time to rebrand in so many ways. This is just the beginning.
Math in the Time of Corona 
As a big fan of mathematics who lives in the PNW (on the north coast of Oregon) – I am very excited about having a museum in our area, and even more excited that you’ll be leading it’s launch. When will it be open to the public (🤞🏽that it’ll be open by September)? Best of luck and good fortune!
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