“Everyone can have joyful, meaningful, and empowering mathematical experiences.”

Federico Ardila

I am committed to actively promoting and supporting equity, diversity, and inclusivity in mathematics. I believe that in order to make mathematics more accessible and inclusive for all, one must actively work to break down the systemic barriers that exist due to race, gender, socio-economic background, or cultural identity. If you’re new to these ideas, send me an email - I’m happy to have a conversation with you!

I have engaged in outreach efforts at multiple levels to help others overcome these barriers, which include: providing academic support and mentorship; creating supportive and welcoming mathematical communities; and recruiting future generations of mathematicians through outreach.

EDI Efforts

Summer BRIDGE Program

In Summer 2023, I worked with Britney Robinson, Bon-Soon Lin, and the UCLA Division of Physical Sciences to create and teach a Summer Bridge Program (Math 94: Explorations of Mathematics in the Physical World) for incoming first-years who identify as underrepresented minorities or low income groups in the Physical Sciences.

MOCAT

Mathematicians of Color Alliance of Texas Logo

I was a founding organizer for the Mathematicians of Color Alliance of Texas (MOCAT). Our goal is to create a community of undergraduate and graduate math students of color to recruit, retain, support, and empower underrepresented students in mathematics.

Some of the activities I’ve helped to organize include:

  • A virtual UT Austin Math Graduate School Recruitment Event
  • The Distinguished Mathematician of Color Colloquium Series
  • The Existence and Uniqueness Book Club
  • Graduate Student Office Hours

In 2021, we received a Tensor SUMMA 2021 Grant.

Seminar Talks

  1. Listen, Amplify, Sustain: Being a better mentor and ally (pdf version here) I gave a talk in the Graduates Achieving Inclusion Now (GAIN) conference in Fall 2021.
  2. Establishing the Mathematicians of Color Alliance at Texas. Xinyu Xie and I presented at the MAA Mathfest Outreach Poster Session in summer 2021.
  3. Teaching Inclusively and Equitably Online (pdf version here). I gave this talk at the UT Austin Inequity in STEM Seminar in summer 2020.

Community Outreach

I’m happy to work with local communities to promote mathematics! If you’d like me to speak at your student organization, send me an email.

Expository/Outreach Talks

  1. I was a panelist for the UMC and WIM Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Panel in Winter 2024.
  2. 3-spheres and the Hopf map. I gave a talk for the Undergraduate Mathematics Student Association at UCLA in Fall 2023.
  3. Journeys Through Mathematics. I gave a talk in the Speaker Series for the Undergraduate Math Council at UCLA in Fall 2022.
  4. What’s it like being a mathematician? (pdf version here). I gave a talk for Connected Research at UCLA in Winter 2022.
  5. What is Algebraic Topology? I gave a talk at Rose-Hulman in Spring 2021.
  6. LaTeX Workshop: CVs, Cover Letters, and SOPs (pdf version here). I gave a talk for MoCAT in Fall 2020.
  7. An Elementary Introduction to Picard Groups. I gave an introductory talk for the UT Austin Math Club in Spring 2020.
  8. REU / Summer Opportunities Panelist for the UT Austin Math Club in Spring 2018.
  9. An Overview of Algebraic Topology. I gave an introductory talk for the UT Austin Math Club in Spring 2017.

Math Circles

  1. Number Games. I gave an inquiry-based talk for the UT Austin SMMG in Spring 2020.
  2. Surfaces, Space, and Hyperspace. I gave an inquiry-based talk for the UT Austin SMMG in Spring 2018.