Academics
Mathematics Alumni in Graduate School
Allie Levesque '08
I am currently in the MS Statistics Program at the University of Southern Maine. I am unsure of my plans after graduation, though I am thinking about an actuarial career or perhaps entering the health field using statistics.
My mathematics education at Saint Michael's certainly helped prepare me to enter my graduate program. At Saint Michael's, we were required to take certain math courses as part of the degree requirements but were also given some flexibility in exploring topics of interest in math. This mix provides a good foundation for everyone but also leaves room for students to discover what part of math is most fascinating to them as individuals. The math education at Saint Michael's has not only helped me in my graduate studies; it has allowed me to solve problems and think critically outside of the classroom. I have also taken away with me a set of tools and skills that allow me to learn on my own and think for myself - important for anywhere life may take me.
Laura Beaudin '07
I will be finishing my Master's Program in Economics at UNH in May 2009 and starting the Ph.D. Program at UNH next September. I am planning on majoring in Environmental Economics and my Master's thesis focuses on modeling the trends of the New England ski industry to see if climate change has had a significant impact on the industry.
The economics program at UNH relies heavily on mathematical theory. Saint Michael's provided me with the strong foundation I needed to help me excel in this program.
Sarah Hamilton '07
I'm a graduate student at Colorado State University (CSU). In 2008 I had a research assistant work with me on an interdisciplinary project for the program in Interdisciplinary Mathematics Ecology and Statistics. We looked at the how the bison herd at Badlands National Park is managed and how it can be improved. I am also teaching an applied calculus course for the bio sciences that I'm enjoying. I have 34 students and it's been really fun! I am working to finish up my M.S. soon. I will then continue working with my advisor, Jennifer Mueller, to pursue a Ph.D. in the area of Electrical Impedance Tomography (basically a cheaper and more portable form of electrical imaging with applications in medical biology and the geosciences).
Upon leaving Saint Mike's I knew my education had been great but I didn't realize how wonderful my experience was until I began my graduate classes at CSU. I have since gone on to pass every qualifying exam that I have taken (Real Analysis, Measure Theory, Linear Algebra, and Abstract Algebra) and I am currently taking my final qualifying course "Complex Analysis."
I am grateful for the fact that at Saint Michael's the professors (math especially) were very willing to meet with you outside of office hours and that the focus was on your education (not their individual research and publishing goals). I also appreciate the independent studies work that I did with Professor Kadas throughout my senior year, and her encouragement of my presenting at the Hudson River Undergraduate Mathematics Conference. As well, I value the opportunity I had to pursue a summer research project with Professor Ellis-Monaghan and Professor Pangborn. Learning how to use TeX program back then has been extremely beneficial in my graduate studies.
Tristan Hauser '03
I am a MSc Candidate in Physical Oceanography at Memorial University of Newfoundland in the Canada Glacial Systems Dynamics Working Group.
I am currently attempting to test and to help develop data assimilation methodologies that will assist in quantifying the uncertainties induced by the approximations needed to parameterize Earth Systems models. This information would allow these models to be more effective in assessing the potential range of future climate states.
An understanding of and competency in the fundamentals of "higher" mathematics seems to be invaluable in any scientific activity, with knowledge of Linear Algebra definitely counting as a fundamental skill. The only reason Professor Jim Hefferon's book isn't permanently on my desk is that my officemates keep borrowing it.