Welcome to Jessica K. Sklar's Home Page!

Teaching My office is Room 261 in the Morken Center. My Spring 2012 office hours are M 2:30-3:30 pm; W 11 am - 12 pm and 2:00 - 3:00 pm; and Th 3:00 - 4:00 pm (this one is virtual). You can email me any time at sklarjk@plu.edu. (You will likely reach me more quickly via email than via the phone.) I an teaching the following Spring 2012 courses: Math 140 Analytic Geometry and Functions Math 331 Linear Algebra For a complete list of classes I've taught, see my cv. Be Not Afraid Are you scared of math? Don't be! It can be difficult, confusing, and strange; but it can also be beautiful and exciting, when you get past your fear. Yes, math can sometimes be boring. And it can require a lot of work. In these ways, it is like any other art, whether it's mastery of the violin or of karate ("...wax on...wax off..."). But, just like music, mathematics can be elegant and full of wonder. And I am here to help you! You're welcome to talk to me about any worries or concerns you have about the subject, or vent about previous bad math experiences (we've all had them). I do have one request, however. Feel free to approach the subject with hesitation or concern, but try not to approach it with hate or disgust: it's hard to get past hate. Concerns, however, can be alleviated, and together we can make the monster of math seem much less scary! Research My research is in the areas of abstract algebra and the popularizing of mathematics (e.g., examining the intersections of math and art). An ongoing collaborative math-art project of mine is The Ideal Vacuum. Care to see my curriculum vitae? Links Math Links Fun Links Last significant update: February 5, 2012.