Mathletes Staff

Tanya Huffman, M.A.

Mrs. Huffman has taught undergraduate level mathematics since 2005. She has developed inquiry-based curriculum materials for introductory statistics and calculus courses and facilitated workshops on developing Process-Oriented Guided-Inquiry Learning (POGIL) activities. She coordinates business calculus courses and mentors new faculty. Her classes utilize active learning and technology enhancement - clickers, mobile devices and team-based learning with game play (Math Jeopardy). She is a member of the organizing committee for the undergraduate mathematics conference. She writes High School tests for the FGCU annual mathematics competition and FGCU STEM competition. She is a member of the judging panel for the middle school science fair. She is a faculty member of the FGCU Honors Program, Teaching, Learning, and Assessment Initiative and Whitaker Center for STEM Education. She is a senior faculty personnel for the STEM Professional Academy for Reinvigorating the Culture of Teaching (SPARCT) program.

Menaka Navaratna, Ph.D.
Menaka Navaratna is a Professor of Mathematics at Florida Gulf Coast University. His terminal degree is in the area of applied mathematics where real life applications are modelled using mathematical equations. Besides regular teaching duties, his interests include, but are not limited to modeling biological systems using differential equations, mathematics education, computer programming and building circuits. During his leisure time, he loves to disassemble and learn the new technologies used in electrical equipment.

Rachel Campbell, M.S.
Chemistry Instructor at Florida Gulf Coast University
Chemistry Activity Leader

 

Dr. Jeff Hutchinson

Assistant Professor at Florida Gulf Coast University
Physics Activity Leader

Dr. Jeff Hutchinson was born and raised in Edmonds, Washington, in the suburbs of Seattle where the verdant mountainous beauty is provided by nearly continuous rain, sometimes literally for months at a time. He graduated from Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington where he received his B.A. in Physics and he spent his free time studying classical fencing. In 2007 he moved down to Davis, California where he received his Ph.D in Physics from the University of California, Davis, under the mentorship of Dr. Markus Luty. There he found his love for board games and, more importantly, his wife, Emily. In 2014, he moved to Fort Myers, Florida to join the faculty at Florida Gulf Coast University and start a family. Now he spends his free time playing dinosaurs with his 3 year old daughter, Penny, watching his favorite shows with Emily, and playing board games with his friends. He also loves to teach physics and mentor undergraduate researchers simulating dark matter signals at particle colliders.

Ian Campbell, M.S.
Chemistry Instructor at Florida Gulf Coast University
Chemistry Activity Leader 

Alyson Baumgardner
Student at Florida Gulf Coast University. Student Assistant.

Alyson Baumgardner is an undergraduate student at Florida Gulf Coast University seeking a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics. She enjoys working with younger students to cultivate a desire to learn more, and she has served as a reading mentor with the Teen Trendsetters program from the Barbara Bush Foundation. Alyson works part-time at a running store and volunteers with her church as a co-leader of a high school Bible study and summer camp counselor. In her spare time, she enjoys going to the beach with friends and running to relax from the business of life.

 

Estelle Ayomen
Student at Florida Gulf Coast University. Student Assistant.

Estelle is a Biology major, Psychology and Statistics double-minor, Mathematics Instructional Assistant, and NASA-funded research assistant studying the visual systems of spaceflight specimens. Apart from STEM, she is heavily involved in music and sings in the FGCU chorale and several community and church choruses. Combining her passion for STEM and music, she has designed a presentation for the Thomas Edison Festival of Light titled "The Science of Music" and has worked with the Whitaker Center to design a GEMS (Girls in Engineering, Math, and Science) program activity titled "Mathemusics." During her spare time, she likes to volunteer as a high-school tutor for New Horizons of Southwest Florida.

 

Rachel Hart
Student at Florida Gulf Coast University. Student Assistant.

Rachel Hart is a junior Civil Engineering student at FGCU. She is an active Teaching Assistant for GEMS (Girls in Engineering, Math, and Science) events and last semester she was a TA for General Chemistry. This summer she is a Teaching Assistant for Mechanics of Materials and is very excited to help out with Mathletes. STEM is a very big part of Rachel's future career and is something that she loves to share with younger generations to motivate them to acquire a passion for STEM as well.

Tim Nail
Student at Florida Gulf Coast University. Student Assistant.

Tim Nail is a is an undergraduate student at Florida Gulf Coast University seeking a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics. His first job out of high school was being a mathematics tutor at the State College of Florida Academic Resource. There he learned the art of effectively communicating mathematics to students of varying ages. After transferring to Florida Gulf Coast University to continue his education Tim began tutoring for the Math Department as well as working as an Instructional Assistant in College Algebra and Linear Algebra Classes. In his spare time he works as a Woodworker making gifts and furniture.

  

Fernanda Martinho
Student at Florida Gulf Coast University. Student Assistant.

Fernanda Martinho is an undergraduate student at Florida Gulf Coast University seeking a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. She has always enjoyed tutoring her peers in mathematics, so she was a part of Mu Alpha Theta in high school and has been an instructor assistant since her freshmen year of college. She is a member of Beta Alpha Psi, Beta Gamma Sigma, Habitat for Humanity, and the women's soccer club at FGCU. On her free time she enjoys volunteering at the Gulf Coast Humane Society, hanging out with friends/family, traveling to new places, going to the beach, and watching the sunset.

Advaith Menon
Student at Dunbar High School. Junior Counselor

Advaith is a sophomore at Dunbar High School. He is passionate about computer science, mathematical problem solving, robotics and other computer integrated mechanics. He’s currently the precalculus captain for the Mu Alpha Theta Honor Society Math Team at Dunbar, and a team member of a world-championship winning local robotics team. He has been actively involved in reaching out to his local community and building interest in STEM, including spreading awareness and teaching useful skills in robotics and math. In addition, he is part of the varsity tennis team and also loves to swim.

Lanka Navaratna
Student at Fort Myers High School. Junior Counselor

Lanka Navaratna is an incoming sophomore at Fort Myers High school. She is enthusiastic about biology and technology-related subjects. She attends club meetings regularly and volunteers at the school. Her commitment to community collaboration has led to numerous volunteer opportunities and leadership positions. Lanka has been a part of the mathletes program since the summer of 2018 and is thrilled to be able to assist. She spends her free time with her friends playing video games and listening to music.