In eighth grade, assistant professor of mathematics Branden Neese 
remembers turning to the student next to him in home economics class and telling his peer that he was going to get a Ph.D. in math. Years later, he stuck to his word and received his doctorate in mathematics from Indiana University.
Dr. Neese began teaching at Marian University in 2014 and since then has appreciated the small class sizes and strong sense of community on campus. One course in particular he has enjoyed instructing is senior seminar. Dr. Neese had the opportunity to speak at the first senior seminar event this past fall semester where he discussed the book How Not to Be Wrong: The Power of Mathematical Thinking by Jordan Ellenberg.
Q & A with Dr. Neese
Q: What courses do you teach?
A: Multivariate calculus, probability and statistics, geometry, numerical methods, and a senior seminar.
Q: What do you enjoy doing outside of teaching?
A: In my free time I garden, host dinner parties, teach night classes, build houses, ride motorcycles, and lift weights.
Q: What was your favorite Halloween costume when you were younger?
A: My mom dressed me up like a pumpkin when I was an infant. She kept that picture on the refrigerator for decades.