Royce Tolarte is a first-year Ph.D. student in the Department of Education with an emphasis in Mathematics Education. He is working with Dr. Sarah Roberts and broadly, his research interests are in the intersections of mathematics education, cognitive science, equity, and professional development in higher education. Royce received his BS in Mathematics from La Sierra University in 2017, and his MS in Mathematics for Teachers from Portland State University in 2018. There, he worked on curriculum development for multivariable calculus that integrated technology and active learning. Prior to attending UCSB, Royce was an adjunct mathematics professor, primarily teaching courses in pre-calculus, calculus, and data science.
GGSE: Why did you decide to study mathematics?
Tolarte: When I started my undergraduate studies, I was not actually pursuing a mathematics degree! I was a Piano-Performance/Pre-Medicine major; however, I was taking math courses for fun! I had taken AP Calculus in high school and just really loved math, so I continued taking math courses in undergrad. When I realized that I wanted to pursue a career in mathematics education at the start of my junior year, I officially switched majors. This switch did not necessarily set me back because I was taking the courses that the other math majors were taking just because I enjoyed them. I was inspired to pursue mathematics education because I loved teaching and because I saw the difficulties that my friends (and other students) were facing with mathematics.
GGSE: What's the best advice a professor has given you?
Tolarte: The best advice that a professor has given me was to protect my resources (e.g., time, energy, etc.). I received this advice as an undergrad, but it became more relevant to me during my graduate studies. Boundaries are extremely difficult to establish, and for me, it was something I never considered to make in academic contexts. However, I think that establishing boundaries and protecting my time and resources has helped me navigate graduate school and has set me up for longevity rather than burn out!
GGSE: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Tolarte: In 10 years, I hope to still be in a university setting. I would love to be in a position that bridges mathematics and education departments, engaged in undergraduate mathematics education research, and hopefully advising graduate students pursuing mathematics education research as well! I also hope that I'll still be playing volleyball and still pursuing music/theater for fun!
GGSE: If you had a time machine, when would you go?
Tolarte: I am extremely fascinated with documentaries about ancient civilizations in Mesoamerica, China, Egypt, etc. I would definitely want to travel to a time when they were building their incredible, iconic structures like the pyramids, the Great Wall, Stonehenge, etc. Seeing how these monuments were built would be really awesome!