October 27, 2020
Wheaton College welcomes Peter Jantsch, who is serving the College as an Assistant Professor of Mathematics.
Name: Peter Jantsch
Education:
Ph.D., University of Tennessee, 2017
B.S., Grove City College, 2011
1. What was your favorite class in college? Why?
My favorite class in the math major was Real Analysis. I enjoyed the complex problem solving and tracing the development of real numbers and functions. The class I enjoyed the most was a survey of modern art. In the middle of all the advanced math and science courses I had, it was incredibly refreshing to spend a few hours each week enjoying great works of art!
2. Before Wheaton, what were you doing?
The last three years I’ve been at Texas A&M University doing postdoctoral work—a postdoc is research and teaching training for recent PhDs.
3. What big question are you trying to answer through your work?
My primary work is understanding how to take complicated relationships from the world around us (expressed by functions), and accurately represent them in simpler terms.
4. What has kept you busy during the pandemic?
During the pandemic I’ve read a lot, honed my skills in the kitchen, and played a lot of virtual board games with friends!
5. Do you get butterflies the night before the first day at school?
Yes! Every semester feels exciting, and it’s great to have a fresh start.
6. What would you have liked to tell the freshman version of yourself about going to college?
You don’t know everything and that’s OK. Be willing to be vulnerable and to ask others for help.
7. When you’re not teaching or researching, what do you like to do?
I like being active, watching soccer (Arsenal!), and investing time in my church community.