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Laurie Varecka

Assistant Director, Math Center


I oversee advising for Mathematics Majors and Minors, and coordinate activities of the Math Center.

image of Laurie Varecka

Office

Room 222, Math Building

Appointments

Please use this Online Form

Calendar

Google Calendar

Contact Info

  • Email (preferred): mcenter@math.arizona.edu
  • Office phone: 520 626 9837
  • Dept phone: 520 621 6892
  • Postal mail: 617 N Santa Rita
    Tucson, AZ 85721

About Laurie


As a freshman at Bethel College (now Bethel University) in St. Paul, MN, I was not sure what I wanted to major in, or what career path I might choose after graduation. I had taken Calculus in high school, and though I had AP credit, I chose to repeat it during my first semester. I enjoyed it even more the second time and definitely understood it better (I remember particularly thinking that epsilon-delta proofs made a lot more sense the second time). For a while, I was considering either math or engineering, but a meeting with a math professor who later became my advisor and mentor swayed me to pursue math. As an undergraduate, I served as a teaching assistant for my advisor; in observing her interactions with students and assisting them myself, I eventually decided that I wanted to become a professor. I completed my undergraduate degree in math with a minor in physics, with the plan to attend graduate school in mathematics.


I first came to the University of Arizona as a graduate student, intending to complete my PhD in mathematics and then to move back to Minnesota and work at Bethel. As a graduate teaching assistant, I taught Intermediate Algebra or College Algebra each semester, and found that I enjoyed teaching more than I was enjoying my own studies. In the end, I realized that I was not as committed to the PhD as I thought (or as would be necessary to complete it!), but I had gained enough experience teaching to be hired as a full-time teacher in the math department. I should also mention that I had met my husband while we were both graduate students, and our upcoming wedding also factored into our employment choices!


I was a full-time part of the instructional faculty for the math department for 12 years; I taught Intermediate Algebra, College Algebra With Data Analysis, College Algebra, Elements of Calculus, Finite Math, Business Math I and II, Calculus I, and Understanding Elementary Mathematics (A). I even served as coordinator for College Algebra for a while. Supervising graduate teaching assistants was also a considerable part of my job: observing them, going over their syllabi and tests, and generally making sure they were meeting the needs of their students. I helped put on the annual training for new graduate TAs, and was a part of the instructional team for Math 597T - Professional Development Workshop in Teaching Mathematics - that is required for all new graduate TAs during their first semester of teaching.


In 2009, I was asked if I would be willing to change roles and take on advising of our math majors. It happened that I was feeling ready for a change, and accepted the position, which officially began in July. While I do sometimes miss being in the classroom, I still get to meet with a lot of great students! (And, I don't miss grading or writing exams...) I feel that having a background in math often helps as I talk with students about their course selection and career goals, so while I'm a bit rusty when it comes to some math skills, I am still using my math degree all the time! Advising has provided some new challenges and opportunities to learn, and I tend to be happier when I am challenged and learning new things.


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