Dr. Sarah Greenwald has a diverse background that she’s using to educate Appalachian State University students in mathematics, as well as gender, women’s and sexuality studies.
“I focus on the diverse interconnections between mathematics and society. This includes topics such as the geometry of the universe, women and minorities in mathematics, and popular culture and mathematics, as well as the scholarship of teaching mathematics,” Greenwald said.
Greenwald started college as an engineering major, but switched to mathematics at the recommendation of an advisor to learn the “whys” behind the equations she was learning.
“Mathematics is pervasive in modern society, and on some level we all use mathematics in our daily lives. In fact, it is almost impossible to find an academic field of study that does not use mathematics, either directly or via tools and technology in which mathematics plays a vital role,” she said.
Greenwald is the associate editor of the Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM) Newsletter. AWM is a nonprofit organization dedicated to encouraging and promoting women and girls in the mathematical sciences.
“The underrepresentation of women in mathematics is a critical issue for the health of the economy and a matter of social justice and of enhancing the discipline. The AWM newsletter is the primary means for coordination and communication about these important issues. Where do many students obtain their first impressions about mathematics and science? In the absence of real-life role models, it is popular culture,” she said.
Greenwald published an educational website called Simpsonsmath.com with coauthor Andrew Nestler. The website analyzes math references in the popular TV sitcom “The Simpsons.”
Because of her work studying “The Simpsons,” Greenwald had the opportunity to work on another sitcom, “Futurama.”
“As a surprise, executive producer and head writer David X Cohen included a ‘Greenwaldian theorem’ on a blackboard in the show itself. While I was not the first to discover it, I was thrilled to have my name up in the lights of the show,” Greenwald said.
Greenwald published the award-winning Encyclopedia of Mathematics and Society (three volumes) and Encyclopedia of Mathematics and Society Singles (six volumes) with Jill Thomley.
“These print and online publications are being used in a variety of high school and college libraries and classrooms to engage students. They weave multilayered connections between society, history, people, applications and mathematics as a foundation for additional explorations and to motivate and encourage students to study mathematics,” she said.
She teaches a wide variety of math courses at Appalachian, and enjoys the diversity of teaching and scholarship at Appalachian, she said.
“The professors I had during my first couple of years of college were so instrumental in my own career – I want to give back in the same way. I’d have to say that my favorite class is whatever class I’m working on at the time. I enjoy the challenge of thinking about how to best help students learn and understand the material, and in implementing diverse ways in order to help the class succeed,” Greenwald said.