Alumni - Northern Kentucky University

 
  • Name: Beth Wells
  • Undergraduate institution: Northern Kentucky University
  • Position: Math Center Coordinator
  • Company name: Northern Kentucky University
  • Industry sector: Education

Beth Wells is the Math Center Coordinator at Northern Kentucky University. The Math Center Coordinator oversees the math tutoring at Northern Kentucky University. They hire, train, supervise and schedule all math tutors. Beth has been in the position since July 2001 which is when the position was created. Previously, Beth was a math tutor and a teaching assistant, both jobs helping to prepare her for this current position.

Besides overseeing tutors, the Math Center Coordinator collects and reports data on math center usage. Besides Beth’s duties as Math Center Coordinator, she teaches a course for the math department and does quite a bit of tutoring. The Math Center has recently begun using an online tracking software and database for record keeping and data collection. Presently, Beth is in the process of setting up an on-line tutoring program.

In May of 1999, Beth Wells received her Bachelors of Science in mathematics from Northern Kentucky University. She then went to the University of Kentucky, where in May of 2001, she received her Masters of Arts in Mathematics. Although most of the tutoring Beth does is in Algebra and general studies courses, higher division courses such as Abstract Algebra and Analysis have given her the background which enables her to explain in depth the different mathematical concepts found in these courses. Although math is a large part of the Math Center Coordinator’s job, she also uses many other skills. Management skills, organizational skills, interpersonal skills and communication skills, especially writing, are necessary in order to successfully coordinate the Math Center.

Beth Wells decided to major in mathematics as a high school student because it was something she enjoyed and something she excelled in. Her advice for student’s considering a major in mathematics is to begin researching the opportunities that a degree in mathematics will give you. If there is a career that interests you, find out as much information about it as you can and if at all possible, either work/co-op in that field or talk with someone who is presently working in that field.