{"id":47,"date":"2012-06-28T14:47:11","date_gmt":"2012-06-28T14:47:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/huangshizhaopin.com\/mathematics\/?page_id=47"},"modified":"2025-08-13T10:18:12","modified_gmt":"2025-08-13T14:18:12","slug":"alumni","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/huangshizhaopin.com\/academics\/undergraduate-programs\/mathematics\/alumni\/","title":{"rendered":"Our Alumni"},"content":{"rendered":"
Graduates of the Mathematics Department are helping to build its reputation through their own accomplishments in industry and academia. The best way to learn the value of a Saint Peter\u2019s Jesuit education is from those who have experienced it. Here’s some information about a few grads:<\/p>\n
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I attended Saint Peter’s as a Mathematics major with a Concentration in Secondary Education. The professors provided several opportunities to succeed and develop my skills as an intelligent, cohesive mathematician. Additionally, the faculty in the Caulfield School of Education provided the fundamental building blocks to become an effective education. Finally, my work-study experience in the STEM Engagement & Empowerment Center, Center for Academic Success and Engagement, and Center for Career Engagement and Experiential Learning gave me life-long friendships and professional connections that serve me well as a current Mathematics Teacher in Clifton High School in Clifton, NJ. In fact, it gave me the opportunity to work as the Math Instructor for the EOF and TRiO SSS programs. I am proud to have attended Saint Peter’s University for my Undergraduate education, and I am looking forward to using my experience gained at this institution in the modern world.
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I graduated as the valedictorian of my class, after pursuing a double major in mathematics and chemistry. During my time there, I discovered that my true passion was in math, specifically algebra and number theory. This realization began during my very first semester in which I took the Discrete Mathematics Class, taught by my advisor and mentor Dr. Nelson. For the first time, I learned how to reason abstractly and write general proofs. This course was so fascinating to me that when Dr. Nelson asked for the members of Math Club to join her in performing research, I did not hesitate to accept. For all four years as an undergraduate student, Dr. Nelson and I worked on variations of the Fibonacci Sequence, which I am proud to say cumulated into two publications and several presentations, including one at MathFest. Additionally, Drs. Nelson and Sequin were kind enough to teach Independent Study courses in Abstract Algebra and Topology, respectively, so as to strengthen my understanding in these areas beyond what was offered in the standard math program. After graduation, I earned my MA from Villanova University. During my time there, I published another paper with a faculty member and an undergraduate student on outer planar graphs with maximum spread. For my Master\u2019s Thesis, I worked towards an inductive proof of the Erdos-Ko-Rado Theorem for Families of Intersecting Vector Spaces and presented my progress at MathFest. Currently, I am working towards my Ph.D. at University of Rochester. I credit all my great learning experiences at Saint Peter\u2019s University for giving me the essential background knowledge and critical research experience needed to succeed in a graduate program.
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When I began my undergraduate degree at Saint Peter\u2019s University, I did not intend to be a mathematics major. However, after taking Dr. Protomastro\u2019s Calculus for the Life Sciences course during my first year, I decided to work towards a B.S. in mathematics. As a student who has interest in both mathematics and the health sciences, I was impressed with how genuinely invested the math faculty was in its students’ success. I learned that mathematics is the foundation of everything around us and can be used in whichever industry we choose to pursue a career in. This is the ideal subject to study to develop transferable analytical, and critical thinking skills as a math student, whether you are interested in continuing graduate studies or pursuing a career in the nursing field as I am doing now. I am eager to implement these skills that I learned as a mathematics major. I would highly recommend Saint Peters University\u2019s mathematics department to any student who has a deep interest in problem solving of any kind or who is simply looking for a program that is fun yet challenging with an amazing faculty and peers.<\/p>\n<\/div>
My experience at Saint Peter\u2019s University as a Mathematics major and Computer Science minor was nothing short of enriching and rewarding thanks to the constant support I received from the mathematics department. As a discipline, often times mathematics can be regarded as a rigorous and intimidating area of study, however, the mathematics professors at Saint Peter\u2019s University were able to make all four years of undergraduate study equally informative and enjoyable. Even early on as a freshman, I was thoroughly impressed by the faculty\u2019s dedication towards its students\u2019 success. For example, Dr. Protomastro\u2019s Multivariable Calculus classes equipped me with the strong quantitative foundation needed to succeed in higher levels of calculus as well as my current role as a quant within the investment banking industry. Separately, Dr. Nelson\u2019s theoretical math classes such as Linear Algebra and Abstract Algebra allowed me to look beyond applied mathematics to understand the abstract concepts lying beneath the theorems we use everyday as mathematicians. Even when certain math classes were not included in the existing curriculum, Dr. Conley and Dr. Sequin arranged independent studies with me in both Numerical and Complex Analysis to supplement my mathematics education. Later, as part of my senior seminar, Dr. Hopkins\u2019 Graph Theory course equipped me with the skills necessary to understand data structures that appear commonly in technical interviews and the workplace. Aside from the coursework, one of my favorite memories was conducting research in Mathematical Biology alongside Dr. Kintos where I was able to travel across the country and present our research at various mathematics conventions such as the National Pi Mu Epsilon conference and Joint Mathematics Meeting (opportunities which were also made possible thanks to Dr. Poiani and Dr. Hammett). All this being said, I am deeply grateful to Saint Peter\u2019s mathematics department for providing me with the quantitative background I possess and continue to build upon today.<\/p>\n<\/div>
The Math Department at Saint Peter\u2019s University was the cornerstone of my journey into data
\nscience, providing me with the analytical skills and technical foundation that I rely on every day.
\nDr. Hammett\u2019s class on non-parametric statistics taught me how to approach comparisons and
\nanalyze data with precision and depth. Dr. Hopkins\u2019 class on combinatorial games pushed me to
\nthink critically and solve complex problems creatively. And Dr. Protomastro\u2019s multivariable
\ncalculus course laid the groundwork for understanding the systems behind machine learning
\nalgorithms.<\/p>\n
Each class was more than just theory\u2014it was a step toward seeing how mathematics shapes the
\nworld and fuels innovation. These experiences didn\u2019t just prepare me for a career in data
\nanalytics and AI; they gave me the confidence to tackle challenges with precision, creativity, and
\nresilience. For prospective students, know that the lessons you learn here can open doors to
\npossibilities you\u2019ve never imagined.
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I hold very fond memories of Saint Peter’s mathematics department, a place that inspired me to pursue a math major by witnessing the diverse career paths pursued by its graduates. The mathematics department equipped me with a repertoire of analytical and programming skills, skills I have greatly relied on in my career. One particular memory that stands out is from my junior year when we participated in a physics competition which required us to determine the stability of planets around binary stars. I remember applying my newly acquired numerical integration of ordinary differential equations for the competition. The wide range of courses from multivariable calculus, discrete math, symbolic programming in Mathematica to group theory provided me with frameworks to tackle different types of problems. I am deeply grateful to Saint Peter’s mathematics department for providing me with an exceptional educational background, while also educating me on what x^3 said to x^2 \u2014 that it believes in a higher power.
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