SJC Student to Participate in Reseach Program

March 27, 2011

BROOKLYN, NY March 28, 2011 St. Josephs College is pleased to announce that Lisa Murphy, a senior on the Colleges Brooklyn Campus, will participate in a prestigious research program for women in mathematics at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey. This research program, designed to encourage the most promising female undergraduate mathematics majors to pursue careers as research mathematicians, will run from May 16 to 27 and will feature lectures and seminars on a focused mathematical topic, mentoring, discussions on peer relations, an introduction to career opportunities and a women in sciences seminar.

"Regarding Lisa, all I can say is that she is an absolutely superb student, stated Dr. David Seppala-Holtzman, professor of mathematics at St. Josephs College. "I have had some marvelous students in my 30 years at SJC. Indeed, even with the strong cohort of students I have the pleasure of currently teaching, I count Lisa amongst the best that I have ever had.

Throughout her life, Lisa always had a love for mathematics. "I have always enjoyed and excelled at mathematics since I was young, Lisa said.It always just seemed like fun to me, like a game. In high school, math still continued to be my favorite subject, so, when it came time to decide my major, math was an easy choice. I love that mathematics can be proven and isn't an area of study just based on theory - I find the logic and reasoning of mathematics to be quite beautiful.

Even while studying one of the most challenging disciplines offered at the College, Lisa has maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA throughout her academic career.  Along with maintaining her high standard of academic excellence, Lisa is a competitive Irish step dancer and maintains a busy schedule of both teaching younger dancers and performing. Following graduation, she hopes to study mathematics at NYU-Polytechnic and parlay her knowledge into a job at an investment bank on Wall Street.

"Without St. Joseph's, I wouldn't have learned all of the material necessary to participate in this program, stated Lisa. "Thanks to the care and concern from Dr. Seppala-Holtzman and the interest he took in my success as a mathematics major, I now have a wonderful opportunity to participate in this program.