About

I didn’t fall in love with math early. It wasn’t until college that something clicked for me. I was pursuing physics and astronomy courses when, at the Evergreen State College, the beauty and coherence of math really swept me away, and I devoured every math course offered. I went on to graduate school, earning my Masters in mathematics from University of Washington.

While at UW, I spent two years as a math fellow in Seattle elementary schools. That’s where I saw clearly what’s at stake: too many kids learn to dislike math before they are given a chance to see what there is to love, and this has serious long term impacts on them and on our society.

I’ve spent my career since then working on that problem. With my husband, Dan Finkel, I cofounded Math for Love, where I’m Creative Director. We make games, write curriculum, and lead professional development that transforms students’ and teachers’ understanding of and relationship with math.

I’m now writing a book for general readers about what math is, why we should care about it, and how to change the way we teach it.

Alongside all of this, I was a dancer, performing and teaching Contact Improvisation and other postmodern and improvisational forms. Dance taught me about attention, curiosity, and how we experience ourselves, and it shapes how I think about learning math. I’ve also walked and ridden a lot of miles: the Pacific Crest Trail, the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, the Pacific Northwest Trail, and the Hayduke Trail. You can read about those trips on the Trails page.

I’ve always been drawn to understanding deep structure and the underlying principles that give things their essence. In math, that relates to the nature of mathematical thinking and problem solving; in dance, the way the body and mind of the dancer collaborate to bring about form. My favorite part of physics has always been the big theories that coherently pull all the threads together. Long distance hiking is a place to practice presence and perseverance in the face of challenge. My work in education is informed these experiences and perspectives.

I live in Seattle.