People with Purpose: Natasha Rozhkovskaya

Math equations may be the sum of their parts, but math education is much more.

For Natasha Rozhkovskaya, solving mathematical challenges has long extended beyond paper. Throughout her career as an educator, she has worked to identify the common obstacles students and children face when learning mathematics and develop practical ways to address them — finding her purpose in providing both analytical and attentive educational experiences.

Q: What is one moment you saw a student's hard work pay off? How did you get to be a part of that story?

Rozhkovskaya: Every semester, in every class, I witness hard-working students succeed. Math is essential for nearly every advanced profession in the modern world, yet it is not an easy subject; it requires consistent personal effort, much like drills in sports. Every class is a shared journey for my students and me. My part is to provide knowledge, encouragement, and genuine human support — I acknowledge that each student has a unique background, remain attentive to changes in our educational community and constantly work to become a better teacher. Many of my students show remarkable determination, and their hard work truly pays off.

Q: What is a current engagement activity you're involved in?

Rozhkovskaya: I currently participate in several engagement activities. I organize an online art and math seminar that brings together an audience from a variety of disciplines and backgrounds, creating a space for the exchange of ideas among mathematicians, artists, educators and scholars. I continue to participate in several outreach programs for school students, collaborate with colleagues from other states, and work with the Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art and the Museum of Art and Light to provide STEAM community-based programming.

This commitment to sharing mathematics with different audiences is also reflected in my writing. I have written several books, all centered around mathematics but intended for very different audiences. One, co-authored, is a graduate-level text in infinite-dimensional representation theory. At the other end of the spectrum is my book "Math Circles for Elementary School Students". That book has been especially successful, being widely recognized in the math outreach community and translated into two languages. Finally, I've done a written tribute to our math–art collaboration with the Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art. It is filled with stories about art, artists and mathematics, and includes engaging problems for readers to explore. I am honored that many colleagues around the world have embraced this text and use it in their art and math outreach activities.

 

Q: What challenges are you currently trying to solve in your work?

Rozhkovskaya: I am deeply interested in the visualization of mathematics, and a number of my current projects move in that direction. This is an especially exciting time for visualizing mathematics: software is becoming more accessible to faculty and students, and AI tools now assist with coding and the acquisition of new technical skills. As a result, visual content can be integrated into many mathematical discussions, making math more learner-friendly.

My goals are to further expand the use of visual approaches in the teaching of mathematics, create new opportunities for undergraduate research focused on visualizing mathematical concepts, promote this style of mathematical communication to broader audiences and strengthen interdisciplinary collaborations with colleagues in the arts and humanities.

Q: What do you hope every graduate takes away from their time at K-State?

Rozhkovskaya: It is hard to name just one thing! Kansas State University offers so much, but I hope that, beyond a degree, graduates leave with strong professional knowledge, which is important in an ever-changing world. I also hope that students leave with a network of peers, faculty and staff that extends far beyond graduation, and a deep sense of pride in our university's rich history and tradition.

Q: What motivates you on challenging days?

Rozhkovskaya: The majesty of mathematics is the music of my life. Nearly everything I do professionally — research, teaching, outreach and service — revolves around this royal science. The beauty of mathematics inspires me to keep moving; sharing math with others brings me joy. Even everyday problems are often resolved through the analytical approach we promote in our math classes.

Q: What's a moment you've seen while working at K-State that made you feel proud to be a part of this campus?

Rozhkovskaya: Spring 2020 was a time of great challenges, but it was also the time that made me most proud to be part of K-State, as I witnessed the true strength of our community. Colleagues and students showed incredible support for one another; everyone adapted quickly to new technologies, shared materials and remained deeply committed to learning. We truly work among generous, thoughtful and resilient people. As time confirmed, we did not simply endure the circumstances — we used them to discover new ways to teach and to serve.

That period also led me to look more closely at our university's history. I learned more about K-State's leadership in national education and research, and how the legacy was built by those who came before us. I also learned about the math department's significant contributions to this legacy, including helping drive the creation of the first computing faculty on campus in 1958 and the leadership of Mary F. Winston Newson in the early 1900s, the first American woman to earn a Ph.D. in mathematics from a European university.

Discovering these stories made me feel part of a large and meaningful mission carried forward by generations of K-State students and faculty.

Q: What do you hope your K-State legacy will be?

Rozhkovskaya: I am proud of my research in representation theory as a modest contribution to modern mathematics — work that will always be connected to my years at K-State. I hope it will remain meaningful within the mathematical community. I hope that my teaching efforts at all levels have provided my students working in different fields today with the necessary knowledge, and that my books will continue to serve readers.

I certainly hope to continue with more research contributions and sharing the beauty of mathematics with diverse audiences.