Hannah  Kolb

When Hannah Kolb was deciding where to apply to college, one critical requirement was that she have many opportunities to interact with faculty as well as with students. The intimate and progressive environment of the Department of Applied Mathematics has provided Kolb with experiences that helped to shape her academic and career paths while satisfying her desire to make connections, exchange ideas, and develop relationships.

When Kolb showed interest in researching a special topic in graph theory, several of her professors guided her, leading her to decide to continue her work in the field as a graduate student. A graduate-level course in discrete applied mathematics challenged Kolb to push beyond her comfort zone and gave her the confidence that she could do well in graduate school. Kolb also participated in a summer Research Experience for Undergraduates at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln where she researched Graph Reconstruction. She presented her research at the 2009 Young Mathematicians Conference.

Vice president of IIT’s Math Club and a recipient of an IIT Camras Scholarship, the highest undergraduate academic honor, Kolb shares her mathematical aptitude as a tutor at IIT’s Academic Resource Center. “Being able to help others like and understand math brings me great joy,” says Kolb. “Having students request me for exam reviews and other situations encourages me to continue along my path to becoming a professor.”

Kolb is also involved in IIT’s Leadership Academy, where one of her favorite activities is participating in the Sophomore Leadership Retreat. “Not only did I learn great skills as a sophomore,” explains Kolb, who is now a fourth-year student, “but I continue to learn and to grow as a person as I go back each year to help lead a team of sophomores. It’s a good way to meet new friends I may not have met otherwise.”