Creating Community at Pitzer’s First Mathematics Conference

Professor Bahar Acu didn’t realize that she was making a Pitzer College first when she decided to organize a Mathematical Association of America (MAA) conference on campus on October 5. Then she discovered from her colleagues that this was the first time that Pitzer ever hosted a math conference. Acu is driven by her conviction that math belongs to everyone, and she was excited that she’d opened a new horizon for math students at the College.

“One of the most valuable outcomes of events like this is the opportunity to build a community of scholars, fostering academic and social interactions that create a sense of belonging in STEM fields,” said Acu.

As the program chair of the MAA’s Southern California-Nevada section, Acu wanted to create space for students and faculty to share their love for mathematics. The conference welcomed 150 participants to campus, including ten Pitzer students who volunteered during the event. Carlos Alvarez ’15, the senior administrative coordinator for Academic Affairs, also provided event support. From plenary talks to paper presentations, the conference covered topics including mathematical models, topology, algebraic geometry, and mathematics education.

“Classrooms filled with mathematicians from across Southern California were truly a joy for me to see,” said Acu.

Students and faculty from The Claremont Colleges and beyond presented their research. The paper session included two Pitzer community members who are pushing the boundaries of number theory. Jane Panangaden, a visiting professor in Pitzer’s mathematics field group, presented the paper “Exploring real quadratic fields with quantum statistical mechanics.” In addition, mathematics major Mark Wang ’26 discussed “Extensions of the j-function to the real boundary of the upper half plane.”  

Acu is also collaborating with Professors Jemma Lorenat and Shriya Nagpal to devote more attention to women and gender-nonconforming students in mathematical sciences. Their recent events include luncheons, community breakfasts, and a mathematical cookie design and tea party. These events received funding from Pitzer’s Teaching, Learning, and Campus Life Committee.

Now that the conference is over, Acu is partnering with mathematics major Sofia Marquez-Gomez ’25 to organize events for first-generation students in STEM. They are planning a panel discussion for their first event this semester in November.

“With the recent noticeable increase in students declaring a major or minor in mathematics, these events will play a crucial role in supporting our students’ academic and career development during their time at Pitzer and beyond,” said Acu.

Acu also expressed special thanks to the following students for assisting with running the MAA conference: Richard Ampah ’25, Jenna Coffman ’26, Leah Glasser ’26, Allie Huang ’27, Philo Judson ’26, Darrell Opoku Kwateng ’26, Misha Logan ’27, Charlotte Richards ’25, Xiaoyu Klay Sun ’26, and Grace Zhao ’25.