Department of Mathematics and Statistics

I couldn’t have asked for a better experience than the one I had in the Mathematics & Statistics Department at MSU Denver. As an undergraduate, I received incredible support from my professors while navigating my career path. The department fosters a welcoming, collaborative environment that made it easy to connect with fellow students— and it’s where I built lasting friendships. Some of my fondest memories are working late into the night in the Math Lab with my peers. Today, as I prepare to graduate with a PhD in Mathematics, I can trace my decision to pursue graduate school directly back to the inspiration and guidance I received from the MSU Denver Mathematics & Statistics Department.

Isabel Corona Guevara

Mathematics & Statistics Alum '15

My experience in the mathematics program was excellent. While I already had a joy for mathematics, my time at MSU Denver strengthened it greatly. I cannot praise the professors highly enough, every one of them had an argument for being the best educator I have had, and while I of course held my favorites, all of them offered something unique and beneficial to me and my education. Beyond this, my peers were wonderful. There are so many stories about STEM students being competitive and cutthroat, but in the math program, this couldn't be further from the truth. My peers were always just as eager to help and work together as they were to learn, and the environment was incredibly friendly. Everybody genuinely wanted everyone else to succeed as much as possible. Those are the two most outstanding parts of the program as a whole for me, but all of it was great.

Bjorn Cattell-Ravdal

Mathematics & Statistics Alum '24

In 2014 I began Art School at MSU Denver without thought of math. In 2016 I dropped out due to mental health issues, and during this time discovered I loved math! In 2020 received an email from MSU's roadways program offering me another chance to go back. Coming back, I declared a math major. Working full-time, I was extremely nervous to enter this new math world suddenly, but I discovered the character of the department through the altruism of my professors and the earnestness of my classmates, and soon felt at home. The other math students were as on fire for the subject as I was, and we could (almost) exhaust each other as we endlessly posed questions and shared what we learned in a vibrant and cooperative way, that was the culture of the department. My professors guided me through my constant questions, advice, and uncertainty, each of them was dedicated to us all and held a standard that formed us into respectable, budding mathematicians. I was able to embark on many independent studies and self-directed projects through the generosity of my professors, and their guidance made graduate school a possibility and eventual reality. I am currently in a PhD program at DU living the life I've always imagined and beyond grateful for the roadways program and everyone I met at MSU Denver; it completely changed my life!

Ben Brown

Mathematics & Statistics Alum '24

As for how MSU Math has changed my life - I cannot even quantify. Possibly the most important component in my BSc was the one-on-one time with professors that formed and shaped my skills. I was at a stage where I needed this more than I knew and professors like Dr. Harder, Dr. Davis, or Dr. Boneh were there every step of the way (just to name a few, although it would more fair to say everyone). Today, I find myself developing scientific software for monoclonal antibody and protein characterization, with a company that had just gone public! In my free time, I try to aide in data science for social good projects and stay active in math research. I wouldn't be here without the ground level support I received at MSU!  

Cody Griffith

Mathematics & Statistics Alum '16

If you consider majoring in Mathematics with the Probability & Statistics concentration (or the Statistics major), first ask yourself:  Do I like math?  Statistics is first and foremost a mathematical field, and it involves a lot of math.  So, among all the different areas in mathematics, what is special about statistics?  Statistics is the one most connected to real-life applications. Statistics deals with data, and these days the world is driven by data. In the statistics program you will acquire skills that are highly marketable and therefore lucrative. The field of probability deals with understanding and managing uncertainty, which is also a skill in high demand, not to mention very interesting. So, if you go into our statistics program (concentration or major), chances are you have made a good choice.

Dr. Shahar Boneh

MSU Denver Professor of Mathematics, Probability and Statistics Concentration

In the mathematics department, the focus is on students and student learning. Small class sizes, a peer learning lab, learning assistants, and a free tutoring lab are just some support systems in place to assist students.

Dr. Don Gilmore

Professor of Mathematics, Math Education Concentration