Steve Grodek
Year Graduated: 2007
First Job: United States Marine Corps
Favorite Course:
Chaotic Dynamical Systems with Dr Edmunds – really took my thinking outside the box. The content seemed over your heard and was very hard but once you got it you really had a different view of math and a new way of analyzing and thinking.
Memorable Experiences in the Classroom:
I really liked Dr. Chiang my advisor, because her motto is “Math majors can do anything.” Dr. Chiang expects a high level of work and always believes in her students.
Memorable Experiences Outside the Classroom:
The baseball game during Sabremetrics.
Why Should Somebody Study Mathematics at UMW?
I worked for 2 years as a Research Assistant at ICF International and was specifically hired because I was a Math major which fit their need for a young person with an analytical background. I worked on a DOD contract for Joint Forces Command designing the next generation planning and execution construct for the military. While I did little to no math analysis my analytical and abstract thinking learned as a UMW Math Major allowed me to excel in my position and push the project along with new thoughts and ideas. I found myself being bound to a desk more than I wanted and ultimately joined the Marine Corps as an Officer through Officer Candidate School where I was commissioned at a 2nd Lt in August 2009. Again, Math is not very applicable to being a Marine Corps Officer however, my analytical thought process was refined as a UMW Math Major and allows me to quickly assess situations and make sound decisions.