Read all about Trevor Johnson below!

Q1. What inspired you to pursue mathematics as a field of study? 

I always liked math in high school. When you’re doing it right, you feel like you’re doing it right, and I loved that feeling. When I got to college, I actually thought I was going into Music Education, but then I took a math education class. I loved the idea of teaching and the theory behind how to teach math well. From there, I just kept going.

Q2. Where did you go to school, and what was your journey like to get here?  

I did my undergrad at BYU in Math Education and taught middle school for a couple of years. Eventually, I decided to go back to school, my dad had started teaching at the college level, and I figured I’d give that path a try. I went on to get my master’s in mathematics at Idaho State University.

Q3. What do you enjoy most about teaching math to students?

A lot of students don’t naturally enjoy math, and many take it because they have to. I love bringing enthusiasm into the classroom and showing them that math can be fun and enjoyable. Spreading that enthusiasm is one of my favorite parts of teaching.

Q4. What’s a common challenge students face in math, and how do you encourage them to overcome it? 

A big challenge is the mental block students label themselves as “not a math person” or think they’ll never get it. I want students to give themselves a chance. Just because something doesn’t click right away doesn’t mean it never will.

One example is I had a student who really struggled on the first exam. She kept pushing, kept asking questions, and ended up passing. After that, she was excited to come to class and fully engaged. Once you get past that mental block, math becomes much more enjoyable.

Q5. Can you share a memorable moment from your time teaching in the department?

I’ve had a lot of good experiences with students, but one of my favorite memories was teaching a calculus class where everyone just clicked. The students wanted to learn, they enjoyed being there, and I was comfortable with the material. It created a great environment where we all got to know each other’s personalities.

Q6. What’s one piece of advice you would give to students who may be intimidated by math? 

Don’t give up, especially on yourself. When you’re raising kids and watching them learn to walk or talk, they mess up constantly, but they keep going. Math is the same way. You’re going to make mistakes, but you just keep trying.

Q7. How do you see mathematics connecting to everyday life or other fields of study?

The biggest connection is problem-solving. Math teaches you to think through a problem, How do I approach this? What steps can I take? That’s the same process you use when solving problems in life.

Q8. What do you find most rewarding about being part of the math department here?  

We have a great group of teachers who are supportive and genuinely enjoyable to work with. I love coming to work and being surrounded by smiling faces. I also love being the coordinator for the tutors.

Q9. Did you always know you wanted to be a professor, or did your career path take some unexpected turns?

In high school, I thought, “No way, I’m not going to teach.” In undergrad, I thought, “Okay, I am going to teach.” After struggling a bit teaching middle school, I went back for my master’s in math, thinking maybe I’d work in the math field instead. But as a graduate teaching assistant, I realized how much I enjoyed teaching, especially at the college level. It ended up being a great decision.

Q10. What’s one fun fact or hobby outside of math that students might be surprised to learn about you? 

During my undergrad, I spent four years in marching band playing the trombone. My claim to fame is that during one of our shows, we had a break and pretended to be the football team, we pulled out a football, and I caught a touchdown pass in LaVell Edwards Stadium. Another claim to fame: I’ve won three different dance cams at various games.

Tutoring Center Question: How does the tutoring center benefit students?  

The tutoring center is a great resource. We have a friendly group of tutors who genuinely want to help. It’s a comfortable place where you can come do your homework and have help available whenever you need it. If you’re nervous about math or want one-on-one support without paying a lot for private tutoring, we offer those options too.