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Jen Dalton
• Where did you do your undergraduate work?
I received my Bachelor's degree in math at St.
Lawrence University in 1994.
• What stage are you at in the graduate program?
I am currently working on my Ph.D. thesis in
Legendrian knot theory under the supervision of Prof. Lisa Traynor.
I completed my prelims in the spring of 2002.
• What drew you to the program at Bryn Mawr?
The program was recommended to me by one of my
professors at St. Lawrence. The reason that I ultimately chose
Bryn Mawr was the size of the program and the dedication of the
faculty.
• How do you find the atmosphere here?
The math department here is very supportive.
The grad students are all close, and all work well together. We
also have a very close relationship with the faculty. I have been
happy with my decision to come to graduate school here.
• How do you support yourself?
I did hold a TA position for a number of years,
and assisted with courses ranging from Multivariable Calculus
through Abstract Algebra and Analysis. Currently, I teach Calculus
and Statistics to 12th graders at Germantown Friends School in
Philadelphia.
• Do you have any outside hobbies or personal
information that you would be willing to share?
I live here on the main line in Wayne, PA with
my husband and my two dogs (Corgis).
• Anything else that might be interesting
to prospective students?
If you are thinking about applying here, I would
urge you to come and visit the program. I think that's the only
way to get a real sense of what it's like here, and whether it's
the right fit for you.
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Laura Hall
• Where did you do your undergraduate work?
I did my undergraduate work at Bryn Mawr, graduating
in 2001 with a double major in Math and Italian.
• Where are you in the graduate program?
This will be my second year in the graduate program,
so I am still taking
classes, but also working on my thesis (I am working on a Masters
Degree). My thesis will be in Algebraic Number Theory, but the
specific
topic is still to be determined.
• What drew you to the program at Bryn Mawr?
I knew about the program because I had done my
undergraduate work here. I wanted to stay in the area, and I like
working with all of the professors, and the type of students that
come to Bryn Mawr. I knew that I would be able to take introductory
courses in Algebra and Topology specifically, and to continue
with my Number Theory. Also, I like the teaching opportunities
for the TAs.
• How do you find the atmosphere here?
I like the atmosphere here because we are treated
as people, and academically often as equals. It doesn't matter
whether you are a woman or a man, your treatment by faculty is
equal. Also, we interact a lot with the undergraduates, which
strengthens both the undergraduate and the graduate program. I
really do like the program. The faculty are very accessible to
us, and the graduate students work together on our class assignments.
In topology this past year, we set up weekly brainstorming sessions
to discuss our ideas and try to answer each other's questions.
• How do you support yourself?
I am a TA. Last year I was one of the TAs for
Abstract Algebra. I held problem sessions and office hours, met
with a few students individually, and did some of the grading
of homework assignments. This year I will be a TA for Real Analysis
and will run problem sessions and grade homework. I also do some
transcribing of field notes for a professor at another college
for a few hours a week. Mostly I rely on my TA-ship income, but
the extra hours add a little bit.
• Do you have any outside hobbies or personal information
that you would be willing to share?
I live in Havertown and feel that I am recently
becoming an expert at finding affordable apartments in the area.
I am working on planning a wedding this year, but around that
and my schoolwork, my fiance and I are really starting to like
games, board games and card games.
• Anything else that might be interesting to prospective students?
Bryn Mawr is a very supportive environment. Students
work together, we work with faculty, with undergraduate students.
The department has teas a couple of times a year, and sometimes
even a holiday party at the end of the first semester, and faculty
and students all show up. It's a very friendly department.
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Jill Jordan
I did my undergraduate work at Houghton College
in upstate NY, a Christian liberal arts college of about 1200 students.
I got my BA from Houghton in May 1999 and started in the graduate
program at Bryn Mawr College in September 1999. I am currently working
on dissertation research with Lisa Traynor in the field of contact
geometry, specifically Legendrian knots, having completed all other
Ph.D. requirements (courses, prelims, and language exams).
I got married just after graduating from college,
and for a few years my husband and I were both graduate students.
During this time I worked at BMC as a teaching assistant, doing
grading, holding office hours, and running problem sessions. In
May 2002 we both got our masters degrees and new jobs. Mike now
serves as pastor of a church in Exton, PA, and I work part-time
as an adjunct professor at Gwynedd Mercy College, teaching 1or 2
classes a semester. We live in an apartment in West Chester.
Despite getting more lucrative offers from other
graduate schools, I chose to come to Bryn Mawr because the program
felt encouraging and friendly. Through my time here at Bryn Mawr,
I have come to believe that the supportive atmosphere is one of
the program's greatest strengths. Students are encouraged to work
together and to learn from each other, and faculty are willing to
go the extra mile to help students achieve their goals. In my opinion,
a student looking for a graduate program in which students are individually
cared for will find it at Bryn Mawr.
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Lisa Marchisio
• Where did you do your undergraduate work?
Bryn Mawr College
• Where are you in the graduate program?
Taking courses and starting my M.A. thesis on
oscillatory integrals with Professor Leslie Cheng
• What drew you to the program at Bryn Mawr?
I graduated from Bryn Mawr in 2002 with a A.B.
in mathematics. After four years here as an undergrad, I knew
it was a supportive environment for learning with concerned and
caring faculty. Graduate work is more rigorous and demanding so
I was nice to know in advance that there would be adequate support
from my professors and from my fellow students.
• How do you support yourself?
I have a TA position that provides me with a
tuition waiver and a stipend. Generally we are required to assist
with one class a semester. So far I have run problems sessions
for a multivariable calculus course and graded for a financial
math class.
• Do you have any outside hobbies or personal
information that you would be willing to share?
I live near the Philadelphia art museum, an area
with lots of parks and bike paths. So, when the weather is nice,
I enjoy cycling around and taking pictures of the local scenery.
My friends and I also like to go to Dave & Busters when we
have free time and some extra cash.
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John Matulis
I chose Bryn Mawr over a number of other schools
primarily because of the high quality of the program and the faculty.
Some of the other schools I considered also are of high quality,
but I was also interested in a small school, where I would get to
know ALL of the other grad students and ALL of the math faculty.
Having known a number of BMC math graduate students before applying,
I also knew that my future classmates would vary greatly in their
backgrounds, ages, and professional experience. The atmosphere here
at Bryn Mawr is collegial and noncompetitive, and the faculty is
very helpful and interested in students’ progress. It’s
a great place to be a grad student, as long as you don’t want
to get lost in (or hide behind) a large group of other students.
I am currently studying for prelims, having finished required coursework.
I graduated from the University of Pennsylvania (in mathematics),
and have two master’s degrees from Syracuse University (an
M.A. in mathematics and an M.S. in computer and information sciences).
I have worked in industry as a computer programmer, systems analyst
and applied mathematician and have taught part-time and full-time
at several local colleges and universities (currently full-time
at Villanova University in the Computing Sciences department). When
not studying or teaching, I’m a professional musician, playing
primarily international folk music on the accordion, directing musicians
and orchestrating music for several performing groups, and occasionally
teaching folk dancing.
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Sherry Teti
I am currently a second year Mathematics graduate
student and teaching assistant at Bryn Mawr. During my first year,
I conducted problem solving sessions in both Abstract and Linear
Algebra. In 1988, I received my undergraduate Mathematics degree
from Holy Family College, with a minor in Science. At Drexel University,
in 1990, I earned an M.S. degree in Applied Math. After several
years working in social services, I returned to mathematics, earning
an M.A. degree in Pure Mathematics from Villanova University. At
the urging of select faculty members there, I applied to the program.
The academic work here represents a standard of excellence with
respect to both content and quantity. I am studying for my second
language and preliminary examinations, while continuing to take
courses as well. My hobbies include creative writing, reading classical
literature, working out at the local gym, and attending various
cultural arts events in Philadelphia.
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Kim Urso
I graduated from Immaculata College in 201 with
a major in Chemistry and only a minor in Mathematics. I decided
to pursue a Master’s in Mathematics rather than Chemistry because
one of my professors, a Ph.D. alumni from Bryn Mawr, allowed me
to work on an exciting undergraduate research project involving
pinpointing the termination time of seizures using wavelets. I love
being a student here and could not have found a better fit. I have
learned so much and am now currently working on my master’s
thesis in Morse Theory.
My experience as a graduate student of mathematics at Bryn Mawr
College has been extremely rewarding and challenging. Unlike many
large universities, our department places a strong focus on teaching
but is still able to provide many exciting options for research.
The professors here go above and beyond the call of duty. They take
a personal interest in each student and are easily accessible. Teamwork
is readily encouraged. The environment here is one in which students
of all levels can grow and thrive.
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