Laughter, questions, and the endless screech of blackboards. A touch of chalk on hands, or a splash of marker on fingers. The hum of a projector as light dances on the swinging screen—the classroom contains many sights and smells, all of which can stir students’ imaginations and interests. Inspiring students has always been an intricate goal of professors. Seeing students’ eyes blazing while you make eye contact, or seeing their smiles broaden when you confirm their answers—there are many ways to influence and inspire students to aim for their goals.

Background

Barry Grove, a mathematics instructor at Rosemont College, places much of his focus on inspiring students. Teaching two sections of college algebra, one section of intermediate college algebra, and two independent studies (one in mathematics and another in advanced mathematics), Professor Grove is currently the only fulltime mathematics professor at Rosemont. His favorite course he teaches is the intermediate course. This is because it contains a class—with many more students to interact and explore with. He explains, “Also, [the course] is a little bit more challenging than the intro to mathematics.”

Professor Grove’s overall history with Rosemont is fascinating and exciting. He originally applied to Villanova University eighteen years ago. At the time, Villanova didn’t have any room for him. Yet, they pointed him toward Rosemont College. Intrigued, he applied and began teaching immediately. He worked at Rosemont from 2003-2007, then taught at the University of Pennsylvania for approximately ten years. He tutored college and graduate students along the way, as well as teaching at a Catholic high school for a year. Finally, after eighteen years away, Professor Grove returned to Rosemont College, seeing old friends and meeting new ones. He laughs, “I know a lot of teachers [here], but they all seem a little older now. [Meanwhile], I look the same!”

The Future is Bright

Due to the fact that he’s just returned, Professor Grove hasn’t gotten the chance to include himself in many clubs or extracurricular activities. However, he revealed interest in joining a club—perhaps even starting one. Namely, a math club, or even a “gifted” club—something that would certainly stir a lot of students to explore possibilities.

Professor Grove yearns for students to remember him fondly. He wants students to recall, “Yeah, he was a good teacher, helpful,” and offer them a positive impression as they continue forward in their lives. He also states, “Hopefully, they’ll remember something I taught them!” It is typically stated that students tend to forget facts they learned once they’ve graduated. However, Professor Grove strives to ensure that they remember his lessons, as well as his overall positive energy and passion for math. He expresses a yearn to “make an impact on students and other faculty, sharing ideas.”

Inspiration Across the Nation

His favorite quote is “Never give up, never give in, never surrender” by Winston Churchill. Throughout the many years he’s been teaching, Professor Grove looks toward the future, excited for the next challenge, and gaining more connections with students along the way—always helping them. He recalls that if he notices anything pop up on his email, he is always willing to share that information with interested students. This is especially helpful to those seeking experience, so they can finally jumpstart their careers.

Inspiration is known to be mutually exclusive. Professor Grove smiles as he explains that he not only focuses on inspiring students, but he finds himself inspired by them. “They have different ideas with what to do with their lives. [It] may be different than mathematics, but they’re still inspiring.” One example is when he taught a student at Rosemont, and she continued her studies at the University of Pennsylvania, becoming a well-known and successful lawyer. Professor Grove’s excitement grows as he says, “Maybe I had a great impression on someone, and they went on to be great,” which is an incredible honor for many instructors.

An infectious smile, a deep passion for his study of instruction, and a fascinating history with the institution—Barry Grove is a wonderful addition to our academic community at Rosemont College. As we continue to learn many different forms of mathematics with him, we discover not only how to converse with numbers, we also learn how to inspire those around us, building our community and strengthening our passions.