Corinne Mitchell

Tell us about your research.

I work in college math education with a focus on making proof-based mathematics teaching more equitable.  My dissertation investigates how students experience enculturation into proof writing in advanced courses. My advisor is Dr. Estrella Johnson.  

What made the VT math department stand out to you during your grad school search?

It’s really special that we have a group of collegiate math education researchers within the math department – when I applied to grad schools, I didn’t want to have to choose between studying advanced mathematics and doing education research. The VT math department has been the perfect fit.

You've been involved in so many amazing projects and leadership roles. Can you share some highlights of what you've been working on recently, both in and outside of your research?

In addition to peer-mentoring through my work as an SGTA, I’m also a founding member of Spectra at Virginia Tech, a student chapter of the national organization for LGBTQ+ mathematicians. I was just elected vice president of the VT student chapter of AWM for the upcoming academic year. In 2023, I received a research fellowship as a College of Science Roundtable Make-A-Difference finalist that will support me in collecting data for my dissertation. A journal article I co-authored with Rachel Arnold and other members of the VT Proofs Project team entitled “Extending Quasi-Induction to Reinvent the Principle of Mathematical Induction: A Lesson Analysis Manuscript” was accepted for publication in PRIMUS, an academic journal dedicated to undergraduate math teaching.

Tell us more about the workshop you'll be facilitating this summer and what makes it meaningful to you.

This summer I’ll be facilitating an MAA-funded professional development workshop that teaches faculty from all over the country how to implement research-based instruction in transition to proofs. Last year’s workshop was an amazing experience and I can’t wait to get back to working with more incredible transition to proof teachers this year!

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received during grad school?

I think grad school is the first time that a lot of students experience real struggle, or even real personal failure. The best piece of advice I’ve gotten is to remember that every person who has ever become really capital G-great at anything had to go through the sort of crushing experience of realizing that raw talent isn’t enough. Knowing that you’re not alone in struggling to develop great skill can be really reassuring.

What is a fun fact most people don't know about you?

I didn’t get really interested in math until college – growing up I always thought I would be a creative writer or go to art school. I’m even published in the North Carolina Bards Poetry Anthology from 2020.