Math Department Life
Life in the Department of Mathematical Sciences is characterized by a spirit of helpful cooperation. It is quite common to see small groups of students studying together in the Math Commons area, or in the “Math Hideaway,” a special study room dedicated to student use. Faculty office doors are always open, inviting students to come in and ask questions or talk about mathematical matters.
Students in the Department of Mathematical Sciences are involved in numerous activities, both on and off campus. In the department, we have a math club and a chapter of Pi Mu Epsilon, the national math honor society, and our upper class students also serve as tutors in our tutoring center to help other students who need help with their math classes. In addition, many of our students spend a semester studying abroad or take part in short term trips abroad.
Student Organizations
Explore topics of interest in mathematics and learn from peers and mentors with our student organizations within the Department!
Math Club
The mission of Mathematics Club is to provide a forum to exchange ideas and information in the field of Mathematics. The club encourages activities and field trips, sponsors speakers, and investigates a broad view of current ideas and research in mathematics and employment opportunities.
Dr. McDevitt and 5 members of the Math Club posing with the 1980 and 2008 World Series trophies at the Phillies College Business Intelligence Night on April 13, 2016
Pi Mu Epsilon
Pi Mu Epsilon, the mathematics honor society, is a national organization whose purpose is the promotion of scholarly activity in mathematics among students in academic institutions, and among the staffs of qualified non-academic institutions. This honor society is open to students attaining high academic achievement in mathematics.
Life after Etown
Derek Eyler ’07
Senior Actuarial Consultant at Aon. Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and an Enrolled Actuary
Derek, the founder of the Etown Ultimate Frisbee Club and first student to graduate from the Actuarial Science program, fondly remembers his time at Etown as being the place where he met lifelong friends and his wife. He credits the actuarial program and great math professors for preparing him for his successful career. He graduated with 3 passed actuarial exams under his belt and a job lined up at one of the premier actuarial employers. Since leaving Etown, Derek has established himself as a young leader in his firm at Aon.
Life after Etown
Jess Lehr ’16
Member of the Rotational Graduate Development Program at Willis Towers Watson
“From the moment I stepped on to campus my first fall, […I] immediately felt at home.” Jess passed her first actuarial science exam in her first year at Etown, and completed three completed before graduation. She received four different job offers while in her final year at Etown, and she accepted the offer from Willis Towers Watson in November of 2015 where she will explore different areas of her firm while taking her actuarial exams before picking a position that she most enjoys. Her favorite memory of Etown is of the people here. Every memory she has is made special by the people she shared it with. Although, the food she ate in ten different European countries her sophomore year while studying in Belgium and traveling around Europe was noteworthy as well.
Life after Etown
Abbie Houck ’01
K-12 Math Curriculum Coordinator for Pequea Valley School District
“I felt very prepared as I stepped into the classroom for the first time as a young adult. I always appreciated the personable professors in the math department, and their willingness and availability to offer guidance. I remember thinking that the level of mathematics that I was learning at the time was far greater than anything I will ever teach in high school.”
Life after Etown
Nicole Souza ’15
Geometry teacher at People’s Preparatory Charter School in Newark, NJ
Nicole has always been passionate about helping children. From her decision to major in math education to forming an Student Directed Learning Community to work with Girls on the Run to landing her first teaching job, Nicole truly embodies Educate for Service. While there is nothing that truly prepares someone for their first year of teaching, Nicole explained that her experience with the Math and Education departments had well equipped her with the tools necessary to excel.
Student Tutoring
The faculty specially choose top math students to serve as tutors for the department. We offer drop-in tutoring five nights a week for students taking most 100- or 200-level math classes. Tutoring is obviously beneficial for those being tutored, but it also helps the tutors by reinforcing course material and teaching them how to exercise care and patience when explaining complicated ideas to other people. Such explanatory ability is a valuable professional skill for anyone called upon to deal with the public or work collaboratively, such as teachers and actuaries.
Study Abroad Opportunities
Embrace the world as your classroom! We encourage all of our majors to consider a study abroad experience during their time at Etown. Whether for a semester or for a May term class, we believe that the world is an exciting classroom. Although the programs in our department are intensive, there is certainly room for students to spend time abroad with proper planning. We carefully advise our students who are interested in studying abroad to plan their academic careers to accommodate a semester abroad within their four-year course of study.
I never considered studying abroad until I came to Etown and realized how easy it was. People often say, ‘Oh, what do events in Europe or in other parts of the world have to do with us?’ Through my experiences abroad, I realized that we are all the same, that we are one.”