Zack Beamer Teaches PVCC Students
Dr. Zack Beamer is a professor of mathematics who teaches Technical Mathematics. Beamer has been a professor at PVCC for 11 years, and his first position was an adjunct professor. What inspired Beamer to teach math was the fact that he loved math since kindergarten. He formed peer groups to study math and found the steps and processes to solving problems satisfying.
Beamer said, “At the beginning of your studies, try to explore lots of different topics and disciplines because you may find a connection to topics you never knew even existed.”
Beamer’s office hours are 8:30-10 a.m. and 2-2:30 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays, while his hours on Fridays are 8:30-10 a.m. and noon to 1:00 p.m. Beamer’s office has a lot of math books, mostly books about precalculus and calculus math courses, along with pictures of his fianceé and his 2-year-old daughter, and various math papers. His various diplomas hang on the wall showing he attended three universities to become a professor.
Beamer first attended college at Michigan State where he majored in math and philosophy and he earned a bachelor’s degree. During his freshman year, he took Calculus I & II. He then took Calculus III and Linear Math in his sophomore year. During his junior year, he took Abstract Algebra, Common Combinatorics and Probability classes. Finally, during his senior year, he took math classes in Differential Equations, Real Analysis, and Final Seminar classes.
His second college was at Indiana University where he earned a master’s degree in mathematics. His third and last college degree was a doctorate in education at the University of Virginia. After graduating from UVA, what inspired him to become a professor at PVCC was the fact that he wanted a job where he could teach math students full-time. However, PVCC isn’t the only place where Beamer has taught. Other educational institutions he taught at were Michigan State University where he taught undergraduates, as well Indiana University where he assisted graduate students. He also taught upward bound for two summers in East Lansing, Michigan, and Bloomington, Indiana.
This semester at PVCC, Beamer is teaching in-person classes in Quantitative Reasoning (MTH 154) with co-requisite support classes and Discrete Mathematics (MTH 288) for students majoring in computer science. Beamer also teaches two online classes in Technical Mathematics (MTH 131). In the spring semester of 2024, Beamer will be teaching an online course for Technical Mathematics and several in-person courses in Quantitative Reasoning (MTH 154), Pre-Calculus (MTH 161), and Calculus III (MTH 265).
In Beamer’s free time, he likes to spend time with his fianceé, Allison, and his 2-year-old daughter, Iliza, exploring nature and hiking. He also likes to perform in bands during musical events.
Beamer gives the following advice to students who are graduating from PVCC and moving on to a four-year university: “If you are going to university, definitely find a place that aligns well with your interests and personality. There’s a lot about finding an institution that feels like your additional home.”
