The calculus involved was simple: a committed faculty member, combined with talented students and a widely respected national honorary mathematics society.

The result: On April 28, Stetson became the newest chapter of Pi Mu Epsilon — the society’s 412th chapter and the 12th in Florida. Its name is the Florida Nu Chapter.

Pi Mu Epsilon, or PME, is “dedicated to the promotion of mathematics and recognition of students who successfully pursue mathematical understanding.” The society was founded in 1914 at Syracuse University, with roots dating back to a math club in 1903.

While groundwork for Stetson’s chapter began early in the fall semester, the idea emerged in 2023 when Assistant Professor Michael Schroeder, PhD, arrived from Marshall University. At Marshall, Schroeder had sponsored several student research projects, many of which led to publications in prestigious journals. He was a proponent of active learning in the classroom, where students complete group work and engage in collaborative exercises in class rather than receiving traditional lectures.

Such thinking has continued at Stetson, now bringing the honorary mathematics society to campus.

“After being here and working with the students, I knew they were of a caliber that could be recognized in a program like this. And so I felt like it just needed to happen,” said Schroeder.

“It’s a badge that is universally recognized. It only carries so much weight if I say that ‘you’re good at math.’ But if there’s someone else that has authority stamping it, then it just adds a little bit of gravitas to the achievements that students have here.”

10 Students Inducted in Charter Class

On April 28 at Lee’s Garage in the Carlton Union Building, 10 students were inducted as inaugural members of Stetson’s charter class. They were led by newly minted Chapter President Abby Denton and also included Sophie Bourget, Christina Kapros, Caitlyn Kulczyski, Paige Labbe, Michael Leitelt, Faith Patterson, Nicole Phillips, Conrad Voigt and Tory Wojnarowski.

For Denton, a graduating senior, the presidency and the new chapter represent a chance to make a parting difference at Stetson.

“I think having an institution like this lets us promote math. A lot of people don’t even know about the math major, even though it’s such a common subject, and don’t know about the ways in which they can use math in other areas that they’re interested in,” said Denton, who is planning to attend graduate school. “Having an institution … lets us kind of expand who gets interested in math and who has access to math.”

Majoring both in Math and Finance, Leitelt agreed, pointing to his classmates.

“We have a great math community here at Stetson, and we just want to see it grow,” he said. “We all support each other; we all take interest in each other’s research. Interest in math has allowed us all to grow and develop.”

Guest speaker Denise Reid, PhD, a national PME counselor and math professor at Valdosta State University, offered congratulations. After describing the many benefits of PME chapter membership, she enthusiastically took the opportunity to give the students in attendance a pop math quiz.

‘Embody Our University’s Mission’

Stetson Provost Elizabeth Skomp, PhD, spoke about Stetson’s mission.

“I believe that by virtue of your induction, you in fact embody our university’s mission to provide an excellent education in a creative community where learning and values meet,” Skomp told the students. “We have three core university values here at Stetson: personal growth, intellectual development and global citizenship. Academic excellence is the result of pursuing all the things we value in tandem, as reflected in our curriculum.”

College of Arts and Sciences Dean Kyle Longest, PhD, whose doctorate is in sociology, praised the students for their resilience in taking on the challenge of doing “hard things.”

“You might not recognize it,” he said, “but you have gone head long into the one discipline [math] that most people try to avoid. … And you knew it was going to be tough.”

Schroeder, smiling broadly after the event, believes Stetson’s Florida Nu Chapter membership will grow steadily. This year’s charter group contains three students graduating this spring plus two others graduating in December. Going forward, the chapter will look to induct mostly rising juniors.

In other words, Schroeder is confident the numbers will add up.

-Michael Candelaria