I grew up in a small town outside of Rochester, NY before moving to Oneonta, NY to complete my Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics at a small liberal arts college called Hartwick College. I have always known that I wanted to be a teacher at some level, and was encouraged to pursue the field of mathematics by my high school teachers. Through several opportunities with teaching that I had in my undergraduate career, both in the U.S. and abroad, I quickly realized my passion of teaching mathematics. The overall incredible experience I had at Hartwick College inspired me to pursue a career as a mathematics professor at an institution where teaching is a priority, and in particular, at a small liberal arts school. I then embarked on the journey to Knoxville, TN in order to attend graduate school and work toward my dream job.