COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING & SCIENCE

Dr. Jenna Carpenter ’84

Founding Dean and Professor of Engineering, Campbell University

Why did you choose to study Math?

Math was always my favorite subject in school. I was also interested in teaching. Once I got to college, I realized that I could get a Ph.D. and teach math at the college level, so that is what I decided to do.

Why Louisiana Tech?

Louisiana Tech had a strong STEM reputation and it was less than 3 hours from where I grew up in Arkansas. The next closest STEM-focused institution was about twice as far.

What was your experience at Louisiana Tech like?

I absolutely loved my undergraduate experience at Tech. There were great faculty not only in mathematics, but also in my English, Spanish, history, PE, and many other classes. They cared about me and were encouraging and supportive. There were interesting things to do on campus. I was active in organizations like the Baptist Student Union and Angel Flight. And I made many great friends during my time at Tech. I loved the town of Ruston, as well, which was very student friendly. It was just an ideal place to go to college.

How did Louisiana Tech prepare you for leadership?

As I noted, I was active in organizations like the Baptist Student Union and Angel Flight, which provided me with leadership opportunities as an undergraduate. The faculty, departments, and administrators at Tech were good role models for creating effective and welcoming environments and programs for students.

What’s the biggest misconception about majoring in Math?

For one thing, most people don’t really have any idea what you could do with a degree in math aside from teaching. A math degree teaches you problem-solving skills and logical thinking skills. Those are valuable in a wide variety of careers, including industry and business. A second misconception is that the average person doesn’t know about the wide array of topics within mathematics that you can study. It is far more than algebra and trig. You can pursue pure or applied mathematics, with a focus in any number of areas.

What was your favorite experience as a Math student at Tech?

We had to take a two-course sequence in advanced calculus, which was really an introduction to real analysis. I didn’t feel that I understood the material very well, so I was really nervous about the first test. I started feeling pretty bad while I was taking the test, but I finished it and then went to the doctor, where I found out that I had walking pneumonia. I was sure surprised when I got my test back and made an A!

What’s the most important piece of advice you’d give an incoming Math student?

It is important to understand the math that you are learning, versus just memorizing your way through it. Math is more than just rules and processes. The overarching theory behind it is really interesting and helps everything gel. If you get a chance to take a math history course, I would highly recommend it, as it will help you begin to see the bigger picture.

Hunter Boudreaux ’16

Actuarial Assistant I, Protective Life

Why did you choose Louisiana Tech University?

I chose Louisiana Tech for a few reasons. It was fairly close to my hometown, and my family and I knew the school of engineering and science had a good reputation. Additionally, Louisiana Tech has great scholarship opportunities that allowed me to get a college education when otherwise it may have been difficult to afford.

Why did you choose to major in Math?

I initially thought I wanted to major in mechanical engineering because I loved math and thought that would be a great fit. Also, I didn’t really know that I could major in math. During my first quarter, I swapped to math, because that was what I really enjoyed. I didn’t really have a plan for what I wanted to do after college, but I figured it out along the way.

How did Louisiana Tech and the Math Program help you grow as a person and as a professional?

Math is not an easy major. It took a lot of time and hard work to make it through my classes. It pushed me to learn things that at first, I didn’t think I was capable of understanding. Louisiana Tech also has many great opportunities to help you grow professionally. My senior year I attended the career fair to see what job opportunities were out there; even though I didn’t find a job, I did learn to write a resume and how to interact with potential employers.

What was your favorite part of being a Tech/Math student?

There weren’t many math majors, so you get a chance to know the other students and the professors really well. This was really helpful when it came to studying for exams or working on homework problems. I spent a lot of time in my professors’ office hours or in the library with other math majors.

What’s the biggest misconception about majoring in math?

I think one of the biggest misconceptions about math is that other students don’t really understand what we study. It can be difficult to explain to others what you’re learning about in your classes, especially classes that focus on theory.

What’s the most important piece of advice you would give incoming or current Tech/Math students?

Make friends in your classes. It can be really helpful to work together on those tough homework problems in higher-level math classes, and you can learn a lot from each other. Also, don’t be afraid to ask your professors for help. Take advantage of their office hours.