Mathematician, alumnus John Urschel to deliver 2024 TLT Symposium keynote
John Urschel, mathematician, former NFL offensive lineman and Penn State alumnus, will be the keynote speaker for Penn State’s 2024 Teaching and Learning with Technology (TLT) Symposium on Saturday, March 23.
Urschel graduated from Penn State with bachelor's and master's degrees from the Eberly College of Science. His address will explore how technology shaped him as a mathematician and continues to impact how he learns new material, teaches concepts to others and performs research. His keynote will be recorded for later viewing by anyone unable to attend.
Crystal Ramsay, TLT senior director, said hundreds of transformative thinkers from all Penn State campuses and colleges come together each year for the symposium, which showcases ways technology can enhance teaching and learning in higher education.
“Dr. Urschel’s story is a testament to the limitless possibilities that arise when passion meets technology. We are honored to have Dr. Urschel kick off our signature teaching and learning event of the spring,” Ramsay said.
Urschel, an applied mathematician in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) math department, focuses his research on matrix analysis and computations. He is primarily interested in theoretical results and provable guarantees for practical algorithms/problems, which often lead to new and improved algorithms.
In 2017, he was named to Forbes’ “30 under 30” list of outstanding young scientists, and he published a New York Times bestselling memoir, “Mind and Matter: A Life in Math and Football,” in 2019.
Registration is now open for the symposium, which will be held in person at the Business Building in the Smeal College of Business.
Building on last year’s success, TLT will also host the virtual Symposium Lite from 1 to 4 p.m. March 28. Participants will view several pre-recorded sessions, which will be a mix of new material and repeated presentations from the TLT Symposium, followed by live facilitated discussions with the presenters. More details will be coming soon.