Getting to Know Anthony Bosman
Anthony Bosman is a current associate professor of mathematics at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. He is a Forest Lake Academy alumni, class of '08, and went on to attend Stanford University to receive his undergraduate degree in Mathematics. Get to know him in this interview with FLA, where he shares his most cherished memories from being a student, what he loves about teaching, and what his favorite hobbies are.
What years were you at FLA? What are some of your favorite memories from being a student here?
I attended Forest Lake from 2004 to 2008. Oh Eight! I remember well the class trips, from mission trips to Senior Outbreak, and enjoyed participating in the honors program and student government. At FLA I had a great sense of community with my classmates, faculty, and staff. I feel deeply indebted to the many individuals who modeled true Christianity and invested in my whole person development, caring about both my academic success as well as my well-being. That kind of care is really unique and something FLA should be proud of.
Where did you attend university and what did you study? What brought you to choose your field of study and what did you wish to do with your degree?
After graduating FLA, I attended Stanford University where I earned an undergraduate degree in mathematics and then went on to earn my PhD in mathematics from Rice University. I also had some opportunities to study and do mathematical research at Oxford University, Pohang University, and elsewhere. Even while at Forest Lake, through dual enrollment courses, I was exposed to quite a bit of mathematics as well as a number of other college courses. Such opportunities helped me feel like I was entering university a step ahead, prepared well for the challenging coursework I took there. Most importantly, I developed a sense of service while at FLA that translated to my passion for helping others learn mathematics and use it for the betterment of the world.
When did you begin teaching at Andrews? What is your current position and some of your favorite parts about teaching?
Since Adventist Education was so formative in my own life, upon completing my doctorate in 2017, I was happy to join the faculty at Andrews and give back through whole person education. I'm pretty ambitious in my teaching -- I want our students to have an education second to none -- and I love seeing students develop in their expertise, confidence, and resilience. I particularly enjoy working with students through our undergraduate research opportunities where they participate in real, original research. It's really cool to be the first one to make a mathematical or scientific discovery, and it helps to distinguish our students when they apply to jobs or graduate programs
How did you make it through high school and college? Any tips for students on how to navigate their academics while also enjoying themselves at the same time?
I tell my students that they should make a list of things that they know they can't do -- run a marathon, learn Calculus, preach a sermon, etc. Then, they should pick something on that list and do it. Find a support network and an expert to help coach you through it. Sure, it will be challenging, but once you do something that you thought you couldn't, the ceiling on your life is suddenly lifted. A new world of options and opportunities opens up that you previously thought was closed off to you. Then the question just becomes what should you focus your time and energy on. That can be a challenging problem, especially for one who doesn't know their "passion." But the latest research shows that passion develops alongside expertise, so try out lots of things and get really good at some of them -- often, the better you get at it, the more you'll come to enjoy it. Finally, take peace in knowing that while we should make plans and follow through on them, ultimately God is the one who directs our steps (Proverbs 16:9).
Lastly, what are some of your hobbies outside of teaching?
I've been developing our YouTube channel Math at Andrews where I have a growing number of lectures, including a series on mathematical knot theory and another series on graph theory. I suppose that is not "outside of teaching," but it is really neat to get messages from people all over the world who stumbled upon the channel and learned some thrilling mathematics! I also enjoy hiking, kayaking, and anything else that gets me outside -- the Great Lakes here in Michigan are pretty incredible.
