WAUKESHA – “What’s this good for?” students taking college math courses frequently gripe. Two working and one retired professional will address that provocative question in a panel discussion at the University of Wisconsin-Waukesha on Thursday, April 26, at noon in Room 101 of the Commons, on campus at 1500 N. University Dr., Waukesha.

The secret will be out, and the public is welcome in on it as well. Admission is free. The presentation is part of the campus Visions & Expressions series sponsored by the Lectures & Fine Arts Committee.

The panel consists of Debra Tarnow, a civil engineer who works for Jahnke & Jahnke Associates, Inc.; Julian Knudsen, a mechanical engineer with Waukesha Engine; and Len Stecklein, who retired from Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance.     

A graduate of Arrowhead High School, Tarnow attended UW-Waukesha and then earned her BS from UW-Milwaukee. Later she completed a certificate program in detention pond systems. Tarnow will speak on how “Math Solves Problems.” She will describe how important math is in her work as a consultant in residential, commercial, and industrial site development, projects she takes from beginning concept to construction completion. Math figures in designing roadways, underground utility service mains, and storm water ponds and plays a part in evaluating the stability of retaining walls as well, she notes.

Knudsen holds a BS from UW-Madison. He admits to finding math difficult in high school, but with the help of remedial work he has become a product design engineer with a patent (for a gasket with pushrod retainer) to his name. “Math is the Language of Science and Engineering,” he states. Understanding how things work requires fluency in their tongue. With math, you can unravel complex natural phenomena and find solutions to the problems once they are simplified.  He will cite examples of how he and his co-workers have employed math skills to do just that.

Stecklein found “Math Is Where the Money Is.”  The Iowa native enjoyed thinking theoretically and earned a BS in mathematics and physics from Loras College, Dubuque, but didn’t know where such a degree might take him. After a stint in Vietnam, however, he continued to follow his instincts and earned a master’s in mathematics from UW-Milwaukee. Thus prepared, he began a career at Northwestern Mutual Life and joined the Society of Actuaries. At first he worked in technology and information systems but went on for an executive MBA and retired after 34 years with the company as its senior vice president for Investment Product Operations.

UW-Waukesha has the largest enrollment among the 13 freshman-sophomore University of Wisconsin Colleges campuses. For information about programs, admission, or financial aid, contact the Student Services office at (262) 521-5200 or visit the Web at www.waukesha.uwc.edu.

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