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Math skills add up for Kentucky’s future 

Essential for economic growth 

At the Paducah Engineering Innovation Center on the University of Kentucky Pigman College of Engineering’s Paducah campus, juniors Marshall Jenkins and Braden Ivy are at work perfecting their latest models of aeronautics components on the computer. They have learned multiple 3D computer-aided design programs, including AutoCAD and Solidworks that help them take an idea from concept to constructed project. 

Jenkins and Ivy have already won awards for their work at a national competition. “Some people don’t think of math as creative, but it’s amazing to take an idea in your head to a product that makes lives better. Engineering is math that makes things. It’s all about working together,” Jenkins explains. 

One of his professors is Y. Charles Lu, the H. E. Katterjohn Professor of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering at UK and director of UK’s Paducah Campus, located at West Kentucky Community & Technology College. Lu notes that two large rooms of equipment in the cutting-edge makerspace were donated by community members. 

“Our community has invested in students to make sure Kentucky is ready for economic growth,” says Lu, a West Kentucky RECC consumer-member. “In recent years, Kentucky has experienced unprecedented economic growth and attracted historic business investment. Kentucky has also received record federal funding to improve infrastructure. This will bring more high-paying jobs to our state.” 

However, Lu adds, the state is also facing a challenge to develop a skilled workforce in math-heavy careers to take on those jobs in the coming years. For example, he says, only 1.7% of Kentucky graduates are in the engineering field, while the U.S. average is 4%. “We need more students willing to pursue math-related fields like engineering and computer science.” 

Lu says Kentuckians may not be aware that their state has become the No. 1 vehicle producer in the U.S. per capita. Kentucky has also become a sought-after location for manufacturers of electric vehicles and their components and is ranked second in national aerospace product exports. 

“Kentucky is well-positioned to become a leader in next-generation manufacturing, which will be technology-enhanced through artificial intelligence, robots and machine learning,” Lu says. “We have in-demand industry sectors coming to our state, but those industries also demand employment specialization.” 

Michael Yoder, director of community and workforce development in the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, explains the demand: “Companies across practically every industry are expressing an increased need for skilled workers, especially those with a background in mathematics, whether that be demand for engineers, computer programmers, or any number of technical roles.” 

Lu says having a local workforce able to help a company grow solves problems of recruitment and retention for corporations considering planting roots in Kentucky. UK Paducah is doing its part to prepare that workforce by offering engineering degrees in three disciplines: mechanical engineering, chemical engineering and computer engineering technology, with more than 100 students enrolled. 

Y. Charles Lu, the H. E. Katterjohn Professor of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering and director of UK’s Paducah campus, makes sure students are understanding the coursework. From left, Evan Utley, Lu and Allison Millspaugh. Photo: Kristen White 

Overcoming the fear of math 

Lu is proud of the smaller student-to-faculty ratios at UK’s Paducah campus, which means students get help to succeed academically in ways students may find inaccessible at other schools. “Engineering requires high level math that may intimidate students. Our small ‘fish bowl’ study groups help them as they push forward to their goals,” he says. 

Javan Reed, provost and vice president of academic affairs for Simmons College of Kentucky, a historically Black college in Louisville, agrees that a fear of math keeps many students from considering hard sciences over liberal arts. “At Simmons, our mission is to raise up change agents. To be a global thinker around complex problems, students must have the ability to think analytically—and that means students must tackle math,” he says. 

Simmons is redesigning its math courses to partner with majors to cover what students need to know in their chosen fields. For example, Reed explains, “If a student is majoring in communications, we want them to have competency in budgeting and accounting they will be called upon to use in corporate projects.” 

Reed has looked at ways Simmons can help students feel more confident in math. “Some of our students have not had positive learning environments in the past. We work to erase the message that they can’t learn math,” he says. “We have developed a three-pronged approach: regular lectures with direct instruction, required small-group labs where peer tutors and math professionals help students master the coursework, and a Math Learning Center that is staffed from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. to answer questions and provide further support.” 

This new math-support infrastructure has made it possible for Simmons to offer two new math-related majors for high-demand careers—computer information systems and applied mathematics. “We are putting in place corporate partnerships and guidance from UK to help us strengthen the coursework and internship opportunities connected to these two majors,” Reed says. “We are proud to offer scholarships for our math majors and are working to show our students the endless career pathways in math, from marketing data analytics to cybersecurity.” One student recently received an internship at the Department of Defense, he notes. 

UK Paducah juniors Marshall Jenkins and Braden Ivy perfect their aerospace designs on computer and in production before taking them to a national competition. Photo: Kristen White 

Applied math 

Applied math is the practical use of math in science, engineering, technology and more. “In the past, many math majors stayed with pure math and pursued the field of education,” says Elizabeth Donovan, professor of mathematics and statistics at Murray State University. “Now, applied math career fields are wide open. Many students pursue statistics, computer science or another specialization.” 

Ed Thome, who chairs the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Murray State University and is a West Kentucky RECC consumer-member, champions the value to the student who chooses to master pure math alongside one of Murray’s applied-math programs: “Every corporation needs problem solvers. Financial analysts, shipping and logistics specialists, economists—students can take their math careers in many different directions. But there’s something about pure mathematics that helps learners. Math is clear and precise. It impacts how we think. And other skills go with math—perseverance and careful logic. Employers like to see a math background for these reasons.” 

Murray State combines mathematics and statistics courses in one department, aiming to help math majors secure internships and awards at places like UPS, Marquette Transportation Co. and at national hackathons, where they can collaborate to solve engineering or computer problems 

Murray State also partners with the University of Louisville on a five-year course resulting in both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biostatistics, with students completing most of the program’s coursework at Murray State. A degree in biostatistics leads to careers in public health, pharmaceutical research, epidemiology and more. 

Western Kentucky University also offers several applied math concentrations, including a concentration in mathematical economics and actuarial sciences, which is unique in Kentucky. An actuary typically works for insurance companies, but those skills also can be applied to areas such as banking, investing and employee benefits. 

Melissa Pittard, senior lecturer and director of undergraduate studies at the Dr. Bing Zhang Department of Statistics at UK, has chosen courses for the new bachelor’s degree in statistics and data science that will help students maximize their many career options. Photo: Kristen White 

What is data science? 

A growing profession, data science is a fascinating combination of computer science, math and statistics. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of jobs in data science will grow by 36% through 2033, with an average salary of more than $100,000. 

Data scientists analyze data to help businesses understand consumer needs, explore opportunities for growth and improve efficiency. In a way, data science is math designed to answer questions for a company. The need for statisticians and data scientists has grown to the point that UK has introduced a new bachelor’s degree in statistics and data science, in addition to its longstanding master’s and doctoral programs in statistics and bachelor’s programs in mathematics. 

The demand for statisticians created a need for the new, more specific undergraduate program, explains Melissa Pittard, senior lecturer and director of undergraduate studies in UK’s Dr. Bing Zhang Department of Statistics. 

“Statistics has been moving in its own direction distinct from math for quite some time, but with the explosion of the desire for companies to analyze their own data to help answer questions they have, the demand for statisticians and data scientists exceeds the current supply,” Pittard says. UK’s new program enables students to take 12 hours of electives in a discipline that complements their interests, such as computer programming. 

Is math for me? 

Mathematics can lead to career opportunities and success in almost any field, says Harold Smith, associate professor and chair of the Department of Math and Physics at Thomas More University. 

For example, he says, math graduates might go to law school, earn MBAs, become doctors, or help fight terrorism by breaking codes or developing stealth aircraft. Graduate school is also an option, for which schools often pay students through assistantships, Smith notes. 

He encourages students with an interest in math to explore the possibility of math as a major. 

“You owe it to yourself to check out the classes,” says Smith, an Owen Electric consumer-member. “They are different from high school math—you can be creative and find ways to apply what you know to solve community concerns or advance an industry you love.” 

Yoder, of the state’s economic development cabinet, reiterates the importance of math training for Kentucky’s workforce. 

“There’s already a demand for these skilled positions, so as we are able to show we can meet that demand, companies will take notice,” he says. “The result will be even more high-wage jobs being made available and more opportunities to keep Kentucky talent in Kentucky.” 

For students: How to choose the right program 

Affordability/scholarships 

Ask colleges what scholarships and work-study options they have for math students. Many schools, like Simmons College and Eastern Kentucky University, designate financial awards to attract math students. 

In your junior year, make college visits and ask about math department recruiting events, such as Math Day at Murray State, which hosts hundreds of high school students and offers inspirational speakers, team-building activities and career guidance, and ends with awarding scholarships. 

Academic quality/support/class size 

Math-related degrees are academically rigorous. Some schools are better than others at offering help to get through difficult classes. When you tour campuses, ask about these features: 

  • The size of classes. 
  • Professors’ office hours—do they lecture only, or can you approach them with questions? 
  • Availability of tutoring and support, such as Simmons’ Math Learning Center and Murray State’s Math Lab—and not just whether a school has one, but what the hours and opportunities are. 
  • The culture of students studying and working together. Ask current students about their experiences and the feel of the department. 

Relevant preparation and projects 

Some schools, like Thomas More University and UK Paducah, require a senior capstone project that comes with layers of support—and sometimes funding—from corporate and community leaders. Employers like to see internships, research, presentations, competitions and professional organizations on a student’s resume. For example, UK Paducah offers seven professional organizations on campus, including American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Society of Women Engineers and American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Ask about these kinds of opportunities when you tour. 

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