Department of Mathematics and Statistics - Meet Megan

Most Hope students wouldn’t settle for a B in their math class. Megan ’27, however, wants three B’s in her math classes.

The B’s she’s working toward are belonging, believing and bravery. “You belong in the math department. You should believe in yourself that you are capable of doing math. And, finally, you should be brave enough to try hard things even if you may fail,” Megan explained.

Originally from Chelsea, Mich., Megan is double majoring in Mathematics Education and Spanish Education. In addition to her studies, she is the concertmaster of the Hope College Orchestra and an avid painter.

Megan has always loved math, but Hope College opened her eyes to the possibility of math research. She conducts research with Dr. Gina Kling in the field of elementary mathematics education with a focus on multiplication fact fluency.

She said her experience with Dr. Kling has transformed her life. “I want to continue to do this research with Dr. Kling to expand my horizons beyond what I learn in the classroom and get valuable experience for my future career,” she added.

Megan has big plans for her future beyond college. She aims to put her double major to good use by teaching math in a Spanish-speaking country for a few years before returning to the U.S. to pursue her master’s degree and Ph.D. in Math Education.

How will Megan pull this ambitious plan off? She’ll use her three B’s: belonging, believing and bravery. The supportive community and excellence in the math department have encouraged her to reach for these lofty goals. “The department feels like a home, and all the special events and colloquiums feel like family reunions,” she added.

Megan credits donors like you for making these special educational offerings possible. “It’s thanks to your generosity that we are able to bring in such amazing and enlightening guest speakers for colloquiums and spend our summers doing math research to further the field and gain valuable experience for our future careers,” she said. “Without you, the department would not be the same.”

Be brave with your gift today and promote excellence in the mathematics and statistics department.

Today, on Day of Giving, thanks to the generosity of the department's faculty and staff, all gifts to the Department of Mathematics and Statistics will be matched up to $1,045!