Sharon Robbert

professor of mathematics

on faculty since 1993

Phone: 708.239.4771
Fax: 708.239.3987
E-mail: sharon.robbert@trnty.edu      

Education

Ph.D., University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 1993
M.S., University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 1989
B.A., Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1983

Professional and Personal Interests

Students who take Dr. Sharon Robbert’s math courses may find themselves going on an unexpected camping expedition, complete with battling the elements of wind, rain, and wild animals. That’s the way Robbert explains her approach to teaching mathematics. The analogy helps students understand that math, like camping, involves the formation of an “us versus the elements” mentality in which the professor and students together face the challenges and difficulties of learning math. “Along the way, the difficulties help unite the group into [a cohesive whole] with a strong bond of fellowship,” said Robbert.

That positive attitude infuses the way Robbert embraces the teaching profession. Equipped with mathematics degrees earned from Calvin College and graduate degrees from the University of Illinois at Chicago, Robbert believes that “learning is a joyous experience that is an offering to God. … I try to help my students find joy in pushing their minds to think about new things in mathematical structures.

“Learning is not always easy; mathematics in particular is seen as a difficult subject. But that does not mean that learning mathematics must be tedious. My hope is that my students are ready to participate in the journey of learning while having fun along the way.” 

Although Robbert has devoted the past 25 years to teaching mathematics, 15 of them at Trinity, she would not describe herself as a “numbers person.” She sees mathematics as a study of patterns, and she enjoys “the generalization of those patterns. I understand the principles of the patterns, such as arithmetic, algebra, and calculus, but the simple details are not as nearly as much fun.”

What gives her the greatest satisfaction in the classroom? She admits that she is “most pleased when I set a hard project for a student or a group of students and the group works past frustration and confusion to euphoric understanding and a sense of personal accomplishment. I am also very pleased when students change their impressions about mathematics from classifying it as a boring subject they dislike to one that is alive, interesting, and enjoyable.”

Robbert is quick to recognize that “not everyone learns in the same way. Some people are visual learners; others learn better through abstract methods; still others are better with words. My students read math, answer essay questions, and use computer visualization during class. It helps them better understand what they learn.”

According to Robbert, teaching at Trinity offers unique benefits to both students and faculty. “Students are personally engaged with faculty and their peers in community in academic, spiritual, and co-curricular activities. It is difficult for students to remain aloof and distant due to the intimate nature of classes and the size of the campus. This is one of our greatest strengths.”

Outside of Trinity, Robbert pursues a variety of non-quantitative pastimes such as doing crossword puzzles, gardening, reading (particularly Tolkien), and watching her children participate in athletics and music activities. Robbert resides in La Grange, Illinois, with her husband and three children. The family attends Western Springs Christian Reformed Church.

Courses Taught

• Abstract Algebra
• Analytic Geometry and Calculus I
• Analytic Geometry and Calculus II
• Analytic Geometry and Calculus III
• Differential Equations
• Discrete Structures
• Linear Algebra
• Mathematics within a Liberal Arts Tradition
• Topics in Mathematics:  Number Theory, Cryptography
• Real Analysis
• Senior Seminar in Mathematics

Professional Society Membership

• Association for Christians in the Mathematical Sciences
• Mathematical Association of America
• National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

Papers Published and/or Presented

• “Another Inverse Problem: A Christian Perspective of Mathematics.” Graduate Student Christian Fellowship, March 2007.
  
  
• “Elliptic Curves & Cryptography with Applications for Ordinary People.” Association for Christians in the Mathematical Sciences, June 2007.
  
  
• “Keywords in Calculus.” 87th Annual Meeting of the Illinois Section of the Mathematical Association of America, Charleston, Illinois, April 2008.