Mathematics Ambassadors | Department of Mathematics

Nine undergraduate students wearing Department of Mathematics polo shirts

Mathematics Ambassadors are special representatives of the Department of Mathematics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. They serve the department in various capacities, including acting as a student advisory committee for the Mathematics Undergraduate Studies office.

Mathematics Ambassadors are student leaders who help grow and maintain the student community surrounding the mathematics department, participating in activities like student welcome events and orientations, Orange & Blue Days, Admitted Student Days, student panels, career fairs, graduation, and more.

Opportunities for Mathematics Ambassadors

Act as a student advisory committee for the Mathematics Undergraduate Studies Office
Help coordinate student and alumni engagement events for the Department
Meet and talk to prominent Illinois alumni
Attend field-trips and department activities
Mentor incoming students to encourage retention and persistence in the major
Build leadership experience and skills
Create and hold executive board positions for a young alumni panel
Maintain Math Ambassador blog and social media accounts

Requirements

Junior or senior standing
Declared mathematics major
Minimum mathematics major and overall GPA of 3.00
A one year commitment and availability

Become a Mathematics Ambassador

Mathematics Ambassadors are essential to the Department of Mathematics, taking an active role in helping the department coordinate events and influencing the future of the mathematics undergraduate program at Illinois.

Apply now

Meet our Math Ambassadors

Yuri Chen

I am a junior majoring in mathematics, with a minor in secondary education and statistics. I have always loved learning math and being able to learn different ways to solve one problem. I think that is one of the ways I like to look at life, even though people have similar goals there are always multiple ways to get there. After I graduate, I hope to become a high school math teacher and share my knowledge with the next generation. On campus I am involved in the Sports Analytics Society and Illini Women's Club Basketball. In my free time I like to play basketball, knit, and explore new hobbies.

Sarah Jacover

I am a junior double majoring in actuarial science and communications. I am looking to pursue a career in actuarial consulting. I’ve always loved numbers and the Illinois math department has helped me gain a greater understanding of the numerous ways I can apply my degree in various post graduate fields. On campus I am involved in a Panhellenic Sorority and Phi Sigma Sigma, and I am a member of the Actuarial Science Club. In my free time I love walking around campus, taking pictures and spending time with my friends and family. I am looking forward to meeting everyone and showing all that the math department has to offer!

Eeshan Zele

I am a second year student studying math and computer science, from Mumbai, India. I love math, specifically in learning the abstract topics it handles, as well as its applications in other fields such as computer science and robotics. I am also a speedcuber and can solve a Rubik’s Cube in under 9 seconds. I hope to get more involved in the math community here and look forward to meeting other math enthusiasts!

Simon Kim

I am a sophomore pursuing double major in actuarial science and statistics. I am also working towards a minor in computer science. I am trying to be flexible with different fields that relate to what I am currently studying, but my current plan after graduation is to pursue a career in the property and casualty insurance industry as an actuary. On campus, I am involved in the Actuarial Science Club, the Korean Student Association, and Axis Risk Management Academy. When I’m not studying, I enjoy working out, biking, rock climbing, and traveling.

Aleena Benny Ukkan

I am a junior studying actuarial science with a double minor in statistics and microeconomics. I love how mathematical concepts can be used to solve problems in society and make processes more efficient. Upon graduation, I hope to be able to use my foundational knowledge in mathematics to create innovative solutions as an actuary. On campus, I am involved in the Illini Statistics Club and the Actuarial Science Club. Currently, I am the workshops director of the Actuarial Science Club, where my primary responsibility is to create workshops that help student grow professionally and give resources that will allow them to be successful in their careers. During my free time, I enjoy drawing, playing badminton, and playing card games. I can’t wait to help others develop their passion in mathematics!

Owen Shi

I am a junior majoring in math and computer Science and working towards minoring in statistics. In my field, I enjoy solving problems and computer science brings a new format in the form of programming to help solve conjectural problems and automate repetitive calculations; it introduces a new dimension to how problems can be approached and provides a practical application to how numbers can be utilized. Not all problems have a solution, but computational power pushes the limits of what we can do! The math department at UIUC embodies these opportunities and I'm excited to represent what our university has to offer. When I'm not doing research and schoolwork, I like to fiddle around with personal projects, work out, and play video games.

Mansha Kumar

I am a sophomore majoring in actuarial science with a minor in business, math, and statistics. Although I had a love-hate relationship with math growing up, I’ve grown to love the way it allows me to problem solve and think critically. I’ve really enjoyed the math courses I’ve taken here at UIUC, with my favorite so far being ASRM 454 because I absolutely love regression and modeling! I really enjoy coding in R as it is a really wonderful statistical tool that helps me with all my actuarial classes and needs. In my free time, I enjoy binge watching Netflix, playing sports, or spending time with friends!

Ahmad Abdur Rahman

I am a junior majoring in mathematics minoring in CS. I'm interested in the ways math can be used to model the natural world and gaining a better knowledge set. I'm interested in fields like game theory and combinatorics and hope to engage in these further on. I'm currently the treasurer of AQTE where I help to develop a curriculum for those interested in quantitative trading. You can find me by the ARC at the jiujitsu club or by the soccer fields for a pick-up game.

Yue Su

I am a senior majoring in mathematics and statistics. I have been passionate about mathematics since I was a kid. I enjoy the process of trying to solve mathematics problems. I can learn so many things during that process. My favorite fields within mathematics are graph theory and numerical analysis. I am also interested in machine learning and deep learning. After graduation, I want to pursue a master's degree in applied mathematics. On campus, I am a member in Illinois Geometry Lab. In my free time, I love playing chess and basketball. I am also a member of the Illinois chess team. I am excited to be a math ambassador and share my love for math with others!

Dmitriy Shvydkoy

I am a sophomore majoring in mathematics and minoring in computer science. I have always found math to be my favorite subject due to its objective and logical nature, and I'm looking forward to continuing to pursue my passion at UIUC and beyond. On campus I'm a member of the swim club and the climbing club. In my spare time you can find me at the ARC or climbing with my friends. I'm looking forward to being a math ambassador this year and contributing to the math community at UIUC!