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 an associate professor of Mathematics at Florida Gulf Coast University, where he currently serves as the department chair of mathematics division. His terminal degree is in the area of applied mathematics where real life applications are modelled using mathematical equations. Besides regular administrative and 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

 

Derek Lura , Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Department of Bio & Computer Engineering
3D Printing Activity LeaderDr. Derek Lura joined FGCU in August, 2013 as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Bioengineering and Computer Engineering. He was previously a post-doctoral fellow at the Center for Assistive, Rehabilitation, and Robotics Technologies where he coordinated research activities at the Rehabilitation Robotics and Prosthetics Testbed. He received his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of South Florida in 2012. His primary research interests are in biomechanics, rehabilitation, prosthetics, and robotics. His current research projects include robotic methods modeling and predicting human motion, and the functional evaluation of a variety of prosthetic devices. His goal is to increase the mobility and manipulability of persons with disability to enable them to live healthy, happy, and independent lifestyles. He is a member of ASME, IEEE, and BMES.

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

 

Julie Rose,
Outreach Specialist at Florida Gulf Coast University
Engineering Activity Leader

Julie Rose is the Outreach Specialist for the U.A. Whitaker College of Engineering. She works with local high school students, faculty, and community members to promote engineering disciplines and the new construction management program. She spent over six years teaching mathematics at Fort Myers High School and is returning to higher education so that she can bring her passion and love of numbers to undergraduate students. She enjoys working with students and mentoring them so that they can reach their potential. In her spare time she enjoys tutoring mathematics, running, and learning new things.

 

Kasun Navaratna
Student at Florida Gulf Coast University. Student Session Leader.

Kasun is a high school student enrolled in Fort Myers High and is partaking in the Accelerate Collegiate Experience at Florida Gulf Coast University. Math is an essential part of his life and his previous experiences in the Mathletes program has helped him explore the boundaries of not just math, but all STEM subjects. He has gotten to enjoy this summer program in his sixth and seventh-grade years, and he is ready to give it his all to help this program expand and succeed at helping the best and brightest students to learn and grow. Kasun works as a tutor for the Center for Academic Achievement at FGCU as well as works for FGCU's math department as a Teaching Assistant.

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.

Anay Naik
Student at Fort Myers High. Junior Counselor

Anay Naik is a sophomore at Fort Myers High school. He has a passion for engineering and other STEM related activities. He tries to go above and beyond in both academic and physical activities. He actively participates in Math and Model UN competitions at school. He enjoys volunteering for future generations in STEM related summer camps. In addition, he likes travelling around the world, geography, and playing various sports.