Dr. Bethany Kubik was one of only two tenure-track faculty members in the Swenson College of Science and Engineering to receive the 2017-18 SCSE Young Teacher Award. Dr. Kubik, now in her fourth year at UMD, has established herself as one of the top teachers at UMD. She has contributed to all phases of teaching: developing new courses, teaching a wide variety of old courses, advising research projects, and involving her students in the community.
Her specialty area is discrete math and abstract algebra. She is one of the department’s core teachers of Discrete Math (Math 3355). This course is a “transition” course between Calculus and many upper-level math courses. It is critical in developing students’ ability to reason and write proofs.
Dr. Kubik has developed two new courses: Applied Algebra and Cryptology, and Introduction to Abstract Algebra. The cryptology course is an upper-level elective, bringing many applications to a traditionally pure mathematics area. One of the favorite student activities she introduced is the “Crypto Hunt,” in which students use cryptology in action to complete a challenge. She has also introduced “culture points”, which encourage students to engage in both the UMD and the Duluth communities. The Introduction to Abstract Algebra course has allowed us to split our delivery of abstract algebra into a graduate level course (Math 5371), and her new course.
Comments from her students illustrate their respect for her:
“This class and you as an instructor were life-changing. I am determined to be like you and create such a welcoming environment.”
“Beth is an amazing instructor. I was nervous after a bad experience in another math class, but my confidence has been restored.”
“Beth is amazingly kind and understanding; she really has found that sweet spot of understanding student-life struggles, but holding students accountable.”
Outside the classroom, Dr. Kubik has advised multiple undergraduate and graduate research projects. She works to find topics related to her own research that can be made accessible to students. She has prepared students to give presentations at national math conferences. She advises the Undergraduate Math Club, has given talks for multiple groups at UMD (Women in Computing Club, Math Club, Undergraduate Colloquium, and Graduate Colloquium), and organized a day-long conference for high school girls, in honor of the famous mathematician Sonja Kovalesky.
As a mathematician, she is a great role model for all students, but especially for women in math, science and engineering.