Amazon Kindle Publishing https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HL75VYMW
September 2026
On the final day of the Spring Semester in mid-May 2026, following
my last class taught at Ohio Northern University (ONU), I found myself
sitting in my office reminiscing. On my desk rested an older Maple
graphic depicting the Wigner semicircle law, a topic I had previously
taught at the university. As a retiring professor with 26 years at ONU
behind me, looking back at 37 senior capstone projects, 15 journal
articles co-authored with undergraduates, and 40 conference
presentations by student advisees, I felt it was only natural for a deep
wave of nostalgia to wash over me. Above all, the overwhelming
sensation I felt was a profound gratitude for my students.
This
memoir chronicles the personal journey of an Eastern European
mathematics educator who collaborated on undergraduate research with
exceptional students at an American liberal arts college.
I wrote
this book for the Ohio Northern University students who brought me
immense intellectual joy and made me proud through their remarkable
achievements in teaching and undergraduate research. This memoir is
designed to show students and alumni the seemingly random, often
serendipitous path of my life. I also hope this book will inspire the
lovers of Mathematics.
