Susan Jane Colley facts for kids

Susan Jane Colley was born in 1959. She is an American mathematician. She teaches math at Oberlin College as a special professor. She was also the first woman to be the main editor of a big math magazine called American Mathematical Monthly.

What Does a Mathematician Do?

A mathematician is a scientist who studies numbers, shapes, and patterns. They use logic and problem-solving skills. They help us understand how the world works. Susan Jane Colley is an expert in a field called enumerative geometry. This part of math counts how many ways certain shapes or patterns can exist.

Her Journey in Education

Susan Jane Colley loved math from a young age. She went to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for her college studies. MIT is a very famous science and engineering school. She earned her Ph.D. there in 1983. Her special project for her Ph.D. was about counting different kinds of shapes.

What is Algebraic Geometry?

Susan Colley's main area of study is algebraic geometry. This is a branch of math that uses algebra to solve problems about shapes. It helps mathematicians understand complex geometric objects. She also focuses on enumerative geometry. This is about counting how many solutions there are to certain math problems.

Teaching and Leading at Oberlin College

After finishing her studies, Susan Colley started teaching at Oberlin College in 1983. She began as an assistant professor. She worked hard and became a full professor in 1995. She also led the math department at Oberlin for several years. She was the head from 1994 to 1997. She led it again from 2011 to 2014. In 1999, she was given a special title. She became the Andrew and Pauline Delaney Professor of Mathematics. She still holds this important position today.

Important Roles in Math Publishing

Susan Colley has helped share math knowledge with others. She was on the editing team for The College Mathematics Journal. This is a magazine for college math students. She worked there from 2010 to 2018. She also helped edit another magazine called Focus from 2011 to 2015.

First Woman Editor

In 2017, Susan Colley made history. She became the editor of the American Mathematical Monthly. This is a very important math journal. She was the first woman ever to hold this position. This was a big step for women in mathematics.

Writing a Math Textbook

Susan Colley has also written a textbook. It is called Vector Calculus. The first edition came out in 1997. It helps students learn about advanced math topics. The book is now in its fourth edition. It is used by many students learning calculus.