CWU math professor elected as editor of national magazine

While the world of mathematics is both wide and deep, it can also at times appear inaccessible to those without degrees in the field.

Publications like the Mathematical Association of America’s (MAA) Math Horizons aim to provide a point of entry for those casually interested in the magic of numbers. As such, the magazine is popular among students and educators alike.

Last year, CWU Professor of Mathematics Stuart Boersma got wind of an opportunity to become more involved with one of his favorite magazines.

“I’ve always enjoyed reading it, and so have many of my peers,” Boersma said. “It’s a nice respite from reading formal research journals, and the language and content are all designed to be exciting and pull people in. When the opportunity came up to edit for it, I thought it’d be a shame to let it pass me by. It’s nice to try something a bit different from time to time.”

Math Horizons conducts a national search for an editor every five years, and this time around, Boersma made the cut. Having written for the magazine three times in the past, and with a nearly 30-year teaching career under his belt, the selection committee chose him to lead the editorial division for the national publication.

As Math Horizons transitions from its previous editor, Boersma has had an opportunity to start engaging with the magazine’s authors.

“So far, I’ve spent quite a bit of time communicating with authors as they revise and refine their articles,” he said. “It’s been a good back and forth.”

As editor, Boersma will have a front-row seat to what’s happening in the world of mathematics, and he hopes to bring some of that newfound knowledge with him into the classroom.

“I’m learning quite a bit of new mathematics just from reading all of the articles that come across my desk,” he said. “I look for ways to pass that on to my students, too.”

Boersma is excited about the prospect of contributing to Math Horizons at such a high level. The magazine reaches an audience that few other publications in the field do, and it uses accessible language and an engaging design to make sure there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

“It’s a way to broaden the community and invite students into the fold early,” Boersma said. “Showing them that there’s a whole world of interesting math to explore, and supportive folks to do it with, is important to their growth as mathematicians. You can enjoy math without any kind of degree.”

Boersma will officially take over as editor beginning in January 2025.