Erin Madden, Instructor of Mathematics, BHSU

   Nathan Feller: How long have you been teaching?

   Erin Madden: Altogether, I’ve been teaching for about three years, and I’ve been tutoring for over ten years at tutoring centers or doing private tutoring. Then I got my master’s degree and I worked as a teaching assistant.”

    Feller: How long have you been a professor at BHSU?

   Madden: “This is my first semester.”

Feller: What is your favorite thing about teaching here?

   Madden: “I love the community and the area. I’m an alumnus of BHSU, so I was very happy to be able to come back here. Mostly, I like the students, [they’re] very nice and fun to be around.”

   Feller: What kind of professor do you strive to be?

   Madden: “I’m here to help. With all my tutoring experience, I want to [have] an open door. I want people to feel comfortable coming and asking for help. I just want to be a resource for students, not only in the classes I’m teaching but if they need help with other classes or just navigating college.

   Feller: When did you know you wanted to be a math professor?

   Madden: “I’ve wanted to be a math teacher since I was in middle school because I’ve always liked math and my mom is a teacher. I originally [studied] to teach [Kindergarten] through Twelfth Grade, but people through my tutoring said I needed to be teaching college algebra.”

   Feller: How many classes do you teach at BHSU?

   Madden: “I have four classes this semester. I’m teaching College Algebra, One-Hundred-Three Math Reasoning with a [co-requisite] and a section of Intermediate Algebra.” 

   Feller: Which one is your favorite?

   Madden: I like them all, but algebra has always been my sweet spot. I’d have to say college algebra is my favorite.”

   Feller: What do you like to do when you’re not at work?

   Madden: “Wednesday night is game night for my brother and I. He spends all his money on board games, so we have a ton to choose from.”

   Feller: What if you could have any other job other than a professor of math, what would it be?

   Madden: “I have a love for Disney, as my students will know. When I was getting my degree, I took some computer science classes and I thought about becoming an animator for Disney.”

   Feller: What is one piece of advise you would give to every student?

   Madden: “My one piece of advice is make connections with the teachers you enjoy. It makes the college experience so much better.”