Mathematics

"Hello! My name is Brelyn Grant, and I attended Tennessee Tech from 2016 to 2020. After I graduated from Tech with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and a minor in computer science, I went on to work full-time at the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).

"At TVA, I started as an intern, was hired full-time as an operations analyst, and later moved into a role working in physical asset management. In these positions, I have been able to leverage data to bring insight and value to the organization. One key element of my position is understanding the impact of data on people and processes within the business. So far, my career has been filled with interesting challenges, plenty of travel, and opportunities to learn.

"My time at Tech has absolutely prepared me for my professional life. As a math major, we learned to think critically and objectively through a variety of problems. The foundation of logic and reasoning provides a launchpad for finding elegant solutions to issues facing any industry. The diversity of classes offered at Tennessee Tech is one of the biggest strengths of the university. From defending an abstract algebra proof at the chalkboard, to elaborating on practical applications of statistics, students are encouraged to employ a variety of skills in their classes. The Math department has a special Fast Track program, which allows students to take master-level classes while in undergraduate. I chose to enter the program, and it broadened and deepened my knowledge of mathematics and statistics. Major-specific courses along with general education and elective courses give everyone the opportunity to round out gaps and improve their knowledge in different areas. For example, I benefited by taking courses in computer science. These courses offered great synergy with my math degree and gave me a strong background to work with data.

"Within the Math Department, I was also able to do research on maximum likelihood estimators with Dr. Machida. This research has been very useful in my time at TVA, and I have been able to employ these techniques in business contexts. Having the opportunity to research and contribute to a field of study while earning a degree is a huge perk that is readily accessible at Tennessee Tech. Tennessee Tech also has a variety of opportunities to interface with businesses who are interested in hiring interns and full-time employees. I got my opportunity at TVA by going to a job fair and visiting TVA’s booth.

"Overall, Tennessee Tech offers students a great foundation for jobs after graduation. They provide students with opportunities, and they support them throughout their studies. All the while, they keep education affordable, offering a great value and return-on-investment. I would highly recommend Tennessee Tech and the Math Department to students who are looking for broad exposure to topics in their chosen field along with a personal approach to education." Brelyn Grant.

"My name is Anne Marie Walley and I am a proud Tennessee Tech alumna. I received my Master of Science degree in Mathematics in May of 2017. I was fortunate to be a graduate assistant at Tennessee Tech and shared office space with amazing fellow students. It was an incredible experience being able to work with, teach with, and study with like-minded peers who loved math as much as I did. The professors in the math department were top notch. I learned so much from them and they helped me grow in my knowledge of mathematics. They also taught me about research. My thesis professor, Dr. Rafal Ablamowicz, helped me accomplish a successful defense of my thesis. I never thought I would be able to do that.

"I am currently teaching Algebra 1 and Geometry at Grassland Middle School in Franklin, TN. I began in August of 2017 right after receiving my Master’s Degree. Teaching is a hard, but rewarding job. I love when I see my students understand difficult concepts. I also love getting to be a foundational piece in the education of my students as they move into high school and take advanced math courses.

"I owe a portion of my success to Tennessee Tech and my experience as a student there. My professors and fellow classmates helped me to achieve more than I would have thought possible. I’m thankful for their investment in my life which is impacting students in Middle Tennessee every year."

"Hello! My name is Madison Pearson. I attended Tennessee Tech from 2018 to 2022 and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and a minor in Business. After graduation, I decided to work towards my Masters in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus in Secondary Mathematics. At the same time, I moved back home and started teaching high school geometry and introductory statistics.

"My time spent at Tennessee Tech provided me with a strong foundation and a deeper understanding of the intricacies of mathematics. When I chose math as my major, I was unaware of the various disciplines of math, and the Math Department at Tennessee Tech helped me explore each discipline and discover which areas I was passionate about. The math classes I took challenged me and helped me to develop a new way of thinking. The faculty and staff were always available and eager to help. It didn’t take long for the Math Department to become like family to me; from participating in SOAR activities, cornhole tournaments, and club meetings, I grew very close to the faculty and the other math majors. I never planned on becoming a teacher, but after the Math Department asked me if I’d like to tutor for some extra money, I quickly discovered a passion for helping others learn mathematics," stated Madison Pearson.

“As a Mathematics major at Tennessee Tech, I learned a great depth and breadth of mathematics. This was a very rewarding endeavor. Through my degree, I gained a great deal of skills and knowledge that I still use to this day. Along the way, I made multiple lifetime friends in the comradery of my coursework. I also dabbled in computer science courses.

“After realizing how much I enjoyed working on software, I sought an internship in the field. Before my senior year, I took an internship with NAVSEA as a software tester for radar simulations. After graduating with a math major and a minor in computer science, I started working for Dynetics, Inc. as a software developer.

“Today, I work as a software architect on hard-real-time hardware-in-the-loop radar simulations. These simulations, and the hardware they are coupled with, provide value to the intelligence community in understanding foreign radar assets," Riley Robinson.