The Aggie Ho Endowed Mathematics Lecture Series – Featuring Dr. Francis Su
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Author: vsiefken
People often view mathematics as a collection of skills—arithmetic, factoring, and formulas—rather than a doorway to joy and wonder. In reality, mathematics is a deeply human pursuit that speaks to fundamental longings for beauty, truth, creativity, and meaning. It can foster virtues such as persistence, imagination, and a sense of enchantment—qualities that matter even more in an era shaped by artificial intelligence. In this lecture, Dr. Francis Su shares how an unexpected friendship with an incarcerated man helped him see these truths more clearly than ever.
🎥 Watch the lecture recording here:
Francis Su is the Benediktsson-Karwa Professor of Mathematics at Harvey Mudd College, a former president of the Mathematical Association of America, and a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society. He received the Haimo Award in 2013, a national honor recognizing outstanding teaching in college mathematics. His work has appeared in Quanta Magazine, Wired, and The New York Times. His book Mathematics for Human Flourishing (2020), winner of the 2021 Euler Book Prize, presents an inclusive and compelling vision of what mathematics is, who it is for, and why it matters.
The University Book Store will be onsite selling copies of Dr. Su’s book.
Speaker
Dr. Francis Su
Time
Wednesday, April 1, 2026
6:00 p.m.
Location
South Ballroom, Memorial Union
Co‑Sponsors
Department of Mathematics
Committee on Lectures (funded by Student Government)
Listen to the recording of this lecture!