Yackel, Carolyn

Mathematical Life of Carolyn Yackel

“Your greatest possible contribution to the world, including the world of mathematics, is to think creatively and deeply in the way that only you can.” (Yackel). Carolyn Yackel has always been inspired by mathematics. Her love for the subject began at a young age. Yackel discovered a passion for art, which then was connected to her mathematical background. Through mathematics and art, Yackel has expressed and shared her creativity that has led to collaboration and deeper learning.

Yackel found math important in her early years. Although she was still learning the basics, mathematical thinking surrounded her. From around the age of four, Carolyn Yackel thought she would become a mathematician. For most four year olds, growing up to be a mathematician was not on the top of their list. Because Yackel’s father is/was a mathematician (a probabilist), and her mom was a mathematics education professor, it was not a weird idea for her (Yackel). In her home, as a child, Yackel’s family had physical mathematical puzzles around the house as decorations (Q&A). Since her parents had strong math backgrounds, they gave Yackel age appropriate math problems to complete when asked. She found math fun and intriguing as a child. Whenever Yackel would make up nonsense, she was pointed in the correct direction to solve the problem. (Q&A).

Yackel attended the University of Chicago where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in mathematics in 1992 (Yackel CV) Mathematics was not the primary reason Yackel chose to study at the University of Chicago. One of her goals was to receive a great liberal arts education and have a positive experience (Yackel). Following her undergraduate years, Yackel completed her Masters and Ph. D in mathematics at the University of Michigan. While at the University of Michigan, Yackel focused on commutative algebra (Yackel).

Yackel began her career as a professor as a Max Zorn visiting assistant professor of Mathematics at Indiana University in 1998. In 2001, Yackel began working at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia as an assistant professor in the mathematics department. After six years as an assistant professor, Yackel became an associate professor and still is today (Yackel CV). Yackel teaches mathematics to undergraduate students. Within the set of courses, she teaches mostly calculus, some statistics, introduction to proofs, and other courses she is asked to teach, which has included about fifteen different courses in all (Q&A). Yackel’s favorite class to teach is abstract algebra because she finds this area of math beautiful. Yackel finds peace in the organization that algebra creates and describes (Q&A).

Being a professor is interesting yet challenging for Yackel. Her career involves a variety of tasks to work on from day to day. Whether it is planning for class, holding office hours, grading papers, learning new mathematics, attending committee meetings, or conducting research, Yackel is always on the go. One of Yackel’s favorite aspects of her job is helping people understand mathematics. She finds it satisfying to help others determine what they enjoy doing (Yackel). With teaching come challenges. Math is very abstract, which means most of what happens occurs inside of each individual’s brain. Yackel has to rely on what her students are able to articulate, which is only a small fraction of what they can conceive (Q&A). To maximize understanding, Yackel focuses on highly interactive lectures and discussion.

Mathematics has not always been easy for Yackel. At times, Yackel has worked too far beyond the edge of her own understanding, which caused frustration and made it challenging to relate new material back to what she already knew. Working to discover examples to ground her, collaborating with other mathematicians or students to receive different perspectives, and gaining support help Yackel when she is frustrated (Yackel). Yackel learned that stepping away from a problem and returning to it after more knowledge has been learned is a viable solution. Through her students and colleagues, Yackel has the opportunity to grow in math with others as well as by herself.

As Yackel grew in her knowledge of mathematics, she began to express her excitement about math through art. Yackel has always been interested in art and crafts. She has been fearless when it comes to teaching herself crafts from a book. Around her first year of graduate school, she began to tie math and art together. She finds similarity between learning mathematics and learning crafts from a book. Both require reading each line again and again until it makes sense (Q&A). Yackel is a hands-on individual. Using the medium of fiber art, Yackel is able to express the beauty she sees in mathematics. On the other hand, art, at times, helps her understand math more effectively. Yackel is able to express symmetry through the making of temari balls. She finds the intricacy of some of the designs incredible (Yackel). In the making of temari balls, Yackel is able to make further mathematical connections and portray various concepts.

Throughout Yackel’s years a mathematician she has put on several workshops, produced numerous publications, and given several presentations. One of Yackel’s most memorable mathematical contributions is the establishment of Knitting Network (KN) (Yackel CV). Yackel partnered with sarah-marie belcastro to develop the KN, which began at the Joint Mathematics Meetings (JMM). The development of the KN at the JMM led to Yackel and sarah-marie belcastro co-organizing three American Mathematical Society special sessions on mathematics and mathematics education in fiber arts at the JMM (Yackel CV).

The Knitting Network is an informal get together/networking venue for mathematicians and fiber artists of all types to discuss mathematics, crafts and their intersection at the JMM. Because the gathering is very laid back, a great deal of mentoring and sharing of ideas occurs. People help each other better understand the crafting, mathematical ideas, the relationship between the mathematical ideas and the craft, how to formulate mathematical problems related to the craft, and simply encourage each other in their lives mathematically and otherwise (Yackel). Yackel has found a way to express the value of crafting to the mathematical community through the KN. As a result of the KN, a great amount of people have begun working on various mathematical problems that they see in their everyday work. People start to see and express mathematics inside the crafting and find it a valuable piece of the mathematical puzzle. Another way that the value has been expressed is through the mathematical fiber arts exhibits associated to the special sessions. The specifically fiber arts exhibits are one-day affairs specifically accompanying the fiber arts and math special sessions (Yackel).

Yackel and sarah-marie belcastro have co-edited two books on mathematics and fiber arts that are written for crafters, mathematicians, and mathematics educators (belcastro). Making Mathematics with Needlework consists of 11 chapters written by different authors. Each chapter has four sections: an overview intended for crafters and mathematicians, detailed mathematics for mathematicians, teaching ideas from elementary to graduate level, and a project with tested instructions. Crafting by Concepts has a similar format to Making Mathematics with Needlework with different teaching ideas and projects (belcastro).

Yackel has used her passion for both math and art to conduct several workshops. In 2012, Yackel gave four workshops regarding temari art (Yackel, CV). The mathematical level needed for each workshop differed from low to high, and the audience for each workshop varied from community members to students and faculty. The workshops were just another way that Yackel could show the significance between mathematics and art.

Outside of mathematics and art, Yackel enjoys gardening, cooking, sewing, knitting, crocheting, tatting, and reading. Although she is a busy woman, she finds time to hang out with her friends and her dog. In Yackel’s spare time she likes to think about and brainstorm new projects she would like to create (Yackel).

Throughout Yackel’s years as a mathematician, she has made an impact to not only the mathematics community but artists as well. Her passion for fiber art has allowed her to show and help others discover the value mathematics has outside of the typical mathematician world. Yackel’s strong desire and enthusiasm to help students uncover all that mathematics entails allows her to share her true passion.

Written by Holly Halstead

Bibliography

belcastro, sarah-marie. "The Home of Mathematical Knitting." The Home of Mathematical Knitting. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Oct. 2014.

"Q&A with Carolyn Yackel." Interview. A Weekly Digest of the Mathematical Internet. Math Munch, n.d. Web. 07 Oct. 2014. <http://mathmunch.org/qa/qa-with- carolyn-yackel/>.

Yackel, Carolyn. Carolyn Yackel (CV). N.p.: n.p., Oct. 2014. PDF.

Yackel, Carolyn. "Life of Dr. Carolyn Yackel." E-mail interview. 3 Oct. 2014.