Richard
Hathaway
Position:
Professor of Mathematics
Employer:
Georgia Southern University
Job description:
Do research in pattern
recognition and typically teach 2 (5 hour) courses per quarter. (CV
is available through homepage.)
Salary range:
$50,000-$55,000 for nine
months
Job satisfaction:
Let me discuss my satisfaction
with the job of being a math professor, rather than anything specific
to GSU.
Good:
The job of doing and teaching math and math related work is, for me,
the best possible situation. The freedom to do research on what you
are currently interested in, rather than what the company wants, is
invaluable. The ability to witness students learn and become enthusiastic
about math is also invaluable. Bad:
The administrative red tape which keeps professors from research and
teaching is a drag, and it seems to be growing. Trying to stay content
in a position, long term, is something that I and many others I know
have a problem with.
Employment history:
Four years at the University
of South Carolina in the Math and Stat departments, followed by 10
years here at Georgia Southern University.
Suggestions for students:
Consider not seeking a
job. By that I mean to consider graduate school if you are not extremely
driven to do something else.
Advisor/Student relationship:
I think that a one year
sequence in either advanced calculus or real analysis should be required
of every pure and applied math major. All my teachers at Georgia did
a wonderful job, but the advanced calculus sequence taught to me by
Professor Azoff was absolutely crucial to my success in graduate school.
Applied mathematicians must first be mathematicians, and applied math
degree programs that skimp on the rigorous mathematics are doing a
tremendous disservice to the students.
Miscellaneous comments:
Thank you Professors Azoff,
Penney, Edwards, Gard, and Lether for the opportunities that you helped
create for me.
E-mail Richard
Visit
Richard's home page
Date of last update: May 23, 1997
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