2025 Mathematics Education Colloquium November 7th
Please join us at the upcoming Mathematics Education Colloquium on Friday, November
7, 2025 from 1:00 - 2:30 pm in B243 Wells Hall and on Zoom. Dr. Lino Guajardo, Assistant Professor at Central Michigan University, will be presenting Who are they?: Diverse Storylines of Entering the Mathematics Professoriate.
Please see the zoom link and passcode in the Colloquium flyer posted on our Mathematics Education Colloquium page.
Abstract: Humanizing proof-based courses has been a point of interest for me in the recent years. Part of humanizing proof-based courses, to me, is highlighting the stories of mathematicians from marginalized communities, offering points of connection to students from the same or similar communities. From an NSF-funded project, working with faculty from various institutions (mathematicians and math educators), we have developed a set of interesting proofs and mathematician stories to go with them. These stories, meant for an introduction to proof audience, showcase the mathematical journeys of diverse mathematicians (men and women of color). In this talk, we will see how these stories counter the dominant storyline that mathematicians' career paths are linear and stem from an uninterrupted interest and success in mathematics. By presenting different ways of engaging with mathematics and entering the professoriate, these stories further disrupt dominant narratives of individualism, innate ability, and dehumanized mathematics. The stories emphasized joy in community and collaboration, renegotiating mathematical identity when encountering struggles, and bridging school and home life. These stories contribute to our understanding of basic narrative arcs and the ways mathematicians present their stories to inspire students.
Bio: Dr. Lino Guajardo is a queer, Latiné, first-generation college student, and an Assistant Professor at Central Michigan University. Their research interests are broadly the teaching and learning of mathematical proof. Specifically, they are interested in investigating how students read mathematical proof for understanding in their proof-based courses and providing support for these readings. Additionally, their research interests are in equity research in proof-based courses. They are currently interested in understanding how mathematical norms, values, and dominant story lines may create barriers to learning for students from marginalized communities. On their free time, Dr. Guajardo can be found playing with their two cats (Mr. Bradshaw and Toffee) or hanging out with their fiancé watching trash tv or going on relaxing walks in nature.
The Program in Mathematics Education sponsors this event.
