Professor of Mathematics and Faculty Athletic Representative
Where did you obtain your degrees?
- Bachelor of Science in Mathematics Education, Bowling Green State University
- Master of Arts in Education, Heidelberg University
- Doctor of Leadership, Ashland University
What did you get your degree in, and what inspired that choice?
From the time I was a little girl, I wanted to be a teacher. I distinctly remember sitting in front of an old blackboard, and “teaching” my stuffed animals lessons. I pursued that passion during both undergrad and graduate school: BS in Mathematics Education from BGSU, Masters of Arts in Education from Heidelberg, Doctorate in Leadership with a cognate of Teaching Mathematics in Higher Education from Ashland University.
As a math teacher, I appreciate the quantifiable: I have published 19 articles, most of them are focused on different aspects of teaching and learning in higher education. More important to me is the 8 teaching awards that I have earned at TU, demonstrating what I value and that I am valued in return by our students and fellow faculty.
Tell us about your first job after you graduated from college.
My first teaching position was at a local high school, Tiffin Columbian. I taught Advanced Algebra 2 and Geometry and also coached JV Basketball and Varsity girls track. While in my extra duty as a study hall monitor, I befriended a man named Mark Ingalls. Two years after beginning to teach Math at that school, we were married. A few years after that, we began our family and I left the high school and began teaching part-time at TU in the evenings.
How did your career path lead you to teaching at Tiffin University?
While I was pregnant with our first child, Professor Becky Fox, a now-retired mathematics chair at TU, hired me to teach MAT 173. Over the rest of her career, she provided many opportunities for me to grow in my positions: I built a new math class that is now MAT181, tried out teaching in the MBA and Med degrees, began teaching online in the summers, and eventually expanded to teaching 11 different courses. Ultimately, I landed on my favorite content and level: MAT 273 (Undergraduate level Applied Statistics). Becky was instrumental in my beginning an EdD program and hired me as soon as the position opened. I now have so many connections and deep, lasting friendships because of the relationships built at this institution.
I have been given some great chances to do new and interesting things over the course of my 29 years here. I have grown as a person by stretching into unfamiliar roles that were indirectly related to my interests and experiences.
How do you prepare students for challenges they’ll face in their careers/after graduation?
During my younger years, I was on the women’s track team at BGSU as high jumper, triple jumper, and heptathlete. Those experiences led me to coaching for 15 years as both a head coach (before my kids were born) and then returning as an assistant coach for jumps and hurdlers when our oldest daughter began middle school. Though once our triplet daughters graduated from high school, I hung up my stopwatch in that role, I tested and earned my officiating licenses for both OHSAA and USATF. All that is to say that when teaching, I try to make a connection based on those common experiences with my students, many of whom are involved in athletics at TU.
It is always my hope to form strong relationships in the classroom and then build upon our shared experiences. I go to almost all the home competitions and sometimes serve as the official at their event when TU competes at any local NCAA track meet. I remain a living example of the value of staying involved in the sport once athletic eligibility has ended. It is my hope that sharing my stories and encouragement can demonstrate this to them and help our student athletes to someday transition into different role within their respective sports as an athletically-involved influencer to the next generation. In all, I try to illustrate with my life how it is both common and OK for a student’s career to modify across the years into a filtered-down form of an original goal and that I am happiest in my career at TU because mine did.
What makes Tiffin University stand out to you as a faculty member?
I have been given some great chances to do new and interesting things over the course of my 29 years here. I have grown as a person by stretching into unfamiliar roles that were indirectly related to my interests and experiences. For instance, I have served TU as the Institutional Researcher, Math & Science Program Chair, led a variety of working committees, represented the faculty to the Tiffin University Board of Trustees, and am now the Faculty Athletics Representative at TU. More importantly, I am allowed to be myself in the classroom. I get to bring my sense of humor and love of teaching together with my appreciation for the beauty of mathematics to impact students’ lives, experiences, and academic success.
How do you incorporate TU’s motto – “Without risk, there is no gain” – into your own life or classroom?
I was labelled as an early adopter of technology even while teaching part-time in the evenings. I try new things and then keep or toss them as needed. This applies to course structure, using AI, Moodle setup, technology in the classroom, and playing engaging educational games as part of my instruction, among other things.
The latter example is probably what I am best known for on campus: many years ago I was accidentally called Miss Frizzle by a student and it stuck. Now, because of the combination of implementing TU’s motto with embracing my likeness’ nickname and teaching style, I have developed a reputation for making learning fun. I embrace the idea of “Edutainment” as my kind of instructional methodology- having fun while gaining and applying knowledge. It appears to be working as a fellow professor teaching an education class on campus told me in an email “I asked the students to describe their favorite math teacher and what makes them special and two instantly said you. Two others jumped in and said they had you and they all loved you. You definitely made a very positive impact on these to be middle school math teachers!”
What’s a fun fact most people don’t know about you – or an interesting hobby?
Despite completely embracing my student-given nickname as Miss Frizzle, I have never watched the cartoon The Magic Schoolbus where the character was created. To my knowledge, neither has my husband of thirty years or any of my five daughters who are all now college graduates with STEM degrees.
What’s your favorite book, film, or quote – and why does it resonate with you?
“Not everything that counts is counted. Not everything that is counted counts” is a quote that is attributed to a variety of people. I think it summarizes me quite well as I love my large family, but could never place a numeric value to all of the joy that they have brought me across their lifetimes. Moreover, I appreciate the beauty of mathematics, and want to teach life lessons concisely. Additionally (yes, that pun is intended), the quote brings just the right amount of snark to accurately represent my sarcastic nature and robust sense of humor.