Faculty Spotlight - Nancy Summer

Bio Questions

Name: Nancy Summer

Rank: Instructor

Home department: Mathematics

How long have you been a faculty member at Tarleton? Since 2014 (8 years)

Where did you get your Master’s Degree?

Tarleton State University

Other Areas: My B.S. is in Electrical Engineering from Wichita State University. I worked at Boeing as a Flight Controls Engineer in Wichita, KS and then later got my PE license and worked for a small consulting firm in Springfield, Illinois specializing in fish hatchery design.

Fun facts: I am an animal lover and currently have a dog, a cat and a rescue squirrel.

Discussion Questions

What classes do you regularly teach?

Precalculus & Calculus 1

Why do you find teaching so rewarding?

I enjoy working with students and helping them to succeed. I enjoy making connections with students and staying in contact to keep up with their academic and professional success. One of my former students who now teaches high school science in Houston sent me a message on Mother’s Day!

How do you work to engage students in your classroom?

I like to employ investigative activities to introduce new material and then have students work in groups or independently on problems so they have some practice prior to attempting homework.

What teacher most impacted your choice to going to teaching as your chosen career?

My high school math teacher, Mr. Glaser. Why? I wanted to be a teacher but he pushed me to go into engineering – my engineering degree has been instrumental in helping students see the real-world applications of mathematics. My engineering students are always interested in hearing about my experiences in the field and the importance of pursuing a professional engineer’s license. (I earned my P.E. license for Electrical Engineering when I lived in Springfield, Illinois.)

What is your favorite class to teach and why?

Calculus. The applied problems are so interesting! The applied problems are so interesting! The students get to see the connection between the mathematics they have been learning and real-world problems they will encounter in their chosen career fields.