David Housman
Professor of Mathematics
What drew you to want to teach at GC?
Opportunities to teach a variety of applied mathematics and computing courses for majors and nonmajors in small class sizes, engage students in research projects, interact with colleagues in other disciplines, and be part of a community that shares this Roman Catholic’s interest in peace and justice issues.
What do you love most about teaching GC students?
Their multiple interests (e.g., almost all mathematics majors complete a second major, gain certification to teach at the secondary level, or complete a minor), collaborative spirit and willingness to work hard to achieve.
What excites you about math and computing?
Mathematics and computing require both creative and rigorous thought. Mathematical models and computer simulations are central in understanding many physical, biological and social phenomena. In particular, game theory examines situations of conflict and cooperation.
What do you enjoy doing outside of your academic work?
Keeping up with my wife and four children and sometimes running and biking.
How does the college’s vision (international, intercultural, interdisciplinary and integrative) connect or shape your teaching and work?
In contrast with other colleges where I have taught, an effort is made to connect mathematics and computing with other disciplines and faith. I have enjoyed teaching a course on fair allocation and collaborating with a biologist to teach a course on biomathematics. As a co-director of the regional Science Olympiad tournament, I help coordinate over 100 volunteer students, faculty and community members to provide an engaging interdisciplinary science experience for several hundred middle and high school students. As a regular faculty mentor in the Maple Scholar summer research program, my students have worked on such projects as voting power in the U.S. Supreme Court, the evolution of cooperation, and fair allocation of costs in joint projects, all while interacting with students working on projects across all disciplines.