Department Spotlight

Enjoy the following Q&A with Professor Viswanathan

How long have you worked at UM-Dearborn?

For seven years (since Fall 2017)

What do you love about UM-Dearborn?

It's the perfect combination of great students, staff and faculty, sprinkled with a rich smattering of enthusiasm, collaboration, unbridled talent, and compelling life stories. And how often can you walk by the stacks at a library and casually check out some Salvador Dali artwork?

What kinds of activities do you do for fun?

I have been known to partake in the odd game of ping-pong, the odd episode of Fawlty Towers, or listen to the odd piece of classical music.

What programs are you involved with at UM-Dearborn?

Applied and Computational Mathematics (ACM) graduate program, summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program, Maize and Blue Math Circles,  and GirlsGetMath@Dearborn applied math summer camp

What motivated you to get involved in the programs from the previous question?

They allow me to combine my research interests with teaching and mentoring, work with extremely talented and enthusiastic students, and have fun in offbeat settings (how often can you set up treasure hunts on campus in the name of learning?)

What is your favorite memory so far from working here?

The Friday afternoon Math & Stats ping pong invitational games? They have been known to attract participants (of all skill levels) from the Dean/Provost's office, CASL faculty and staff, students wrapping up their 2-3:15pm Friday class, kids spending the day/afternoon on campus, and even visitors (well... visiting faculty) from Wayne State!

Where did you receive your degree(s) from and what did you get them in?

MS and PhD (in Electrical Engineering) from Arizona State University; 

BE (in Electronics and Communication Engineering) from R.V. College of Engineering, Bangalore, India.

What is the most impactful thing you have ever learned?

It's a close tie between learning to code, learning to write my first proof, learning probability and statistics, and accepting the 'No free lunch' theorem!

What kind of research are you interested in either currently or for the future?

I am interested in developing and analyzing applied mathematical methods to solve problems in data-driven signal and image processing applications (such as magnetic resonance imaging, x-ray crystallography, and radar).

Class Standing: Senior

Major: Mathematics/Secondary Education

Campus Involvement & Interests: Association for Womein in Math, Talent Gateway, Women's Bowling & Social Events

Why UM-Dearborn? "Living at home with my family, the amount of scholarships available, and the feel of the campus community."

Class Standing: Senior

Major: Elementary Education

Campus Involvement & Interests: Passionate about expressing creativy through painting and journaling. Enjoys framing jigsaw puzzles and traveling.

Why UM-Dearborn? "My silbings attended UM-Dearborn and spoke very highly of it. It is giving me opportunities that support me and my goals for the future. I hope to become an educator in a Dearborn Public School."

Class Standing: Freshman

Major: Small Business

Campus Involvement & Interests: Developing new and creative fashion designs. Cycling through many of Michigan's local Metroparks.  Loves watching action and mystery movies.

Why UM-Dearborn? "To further my knowledge in the business industry and because it is ranked in the top 20 best universities in the Midwest by the U.S. News and World Report."

This year we welcomed three of our majors to serve as our Student Ambassadors. Emilee Gootee, Kaitlynn McKenna and Katrina McKay help promote our majors, programs and events by attending open houses, campus socials and department events. Read more about our Student Ambassadors.

Enjoy the following Q&A with our Department Chair Mahesh Agarwal

How long have you worked at UM-Dearborn?

For 15 years (since Fall 2009)

What do you love about UM-Dearborn?

The students here are truly inspiring. Their determination and backgrounds, resonating with my own upbringing, are what I find most appealing. I've gotten the opportunity to meet and collaborate with some amazing people over the years. This campus encourages growth, fosters innovation, and allows for the exploration of interests without inhibiting our passions. I've largely received great support here. The compact size of our campus makes it easy to keep connections with students, colleagues, administration, and alumni. Plus, having access to the Ford Estate is a wonderful bonus.

What kinds of activities do you do for fun?

I enjoy activities like gardening and board games, outdoor pursuits like hiking, attending cultural events like plays and concerts, and exploring new places and cuisines through travel.

What programs are you involved with at UM-Dearborn?

I have actively involved in curriculum development since the first summer of joining UM-Dearborn. I developed a Cryptography course and then went on to create one of the first online courses in the Mathematics Department. I played a significant role developing the Data science majors (both undergraduate and graduate) on the campus. After that I co-created the Actuarial Mathematics major. Besides curriculum development, I have been engaged in various committees like the faculty senate, student retention, etc.

What motivated you to get involved in the programs from the previous question?

Primarily, my interest lies in engaging in programs that have a direct impact on students. For example, as a co-advisor for the Actuarial Program, I have the opportunity to interact with students both within and outside the classroom. Witnessing their progression from being unaware of an actuary's role to securing full-time employment is extremely gratifying.

What is your favorite memory so far from working here?

My most cherished memories while working here involves interacting with people on campus. Specifically, my exchanges with Prof. Natarajan (Nattu) from the Engineering department are truly memorable. Initially, as an assistant professor, I was hesitant to venture beyond Number Theory for projects--but Nattu's persistence changed that, and we ended up collaborating on several projects. Our meetings transcended Mathematics and fostered discussions on a broad spectrum of ideas from various fields, often late into the night. His passion for life and unique commitment to his students were truly infectious. When he passed away, the eulogies from alumni, their families, students, and colleagues at his memorial services made me truly comprehend the substantial impact he had, not only on me personally, but also on the entire campus. 

Where did you receive your degree(s) from and what did you get them in?

Ph.D. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, 2007 in Mathematics, M.S. in Mathematics, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, 2001, B.S. (Hons) Mathematics, 1999.

What kind of research are you interested in either currently or for the future?

I am interested in using mathematical and computational sciences to improve outcomes in the Education, Healthcare, and Insurance sectors. This aligns with some of my recent research work.