Apple Teacher
Education:Ph.D., University of Minnesota
M.S., University of Minnesota
B.A., University of Wisconsin
Since joining the faculty of the Department of Mathematical and Computing Sciences in 2006, Dr. Gantner has taught a wide variety of math classes. He aims to connect with students with a mix of meaningful projects, inquiry-driven course materials, challenging problems, and terrible humor. He also seeks to improve his own teaching and learning in many ways, often though his own service and leadership roles.
In 2014, Dr. Gantner was a co-founder of the Greater Upstate New York Inquiry-Based Learning Consortium. Together with members from other institutions from across the state, Dr. Gantner was able to secure a grant-funded budget exceeding $100,000 to promote inquiry-based learning among college professors in the region. By putting student learning first, inquiry-based learning in mathematics operates with the understanding that students learn best when they do the problems, they develop the work, and they are invested in the outcomes. Like learning a sport, one cannot become an expert at mathematics simply by listening to someone talk about how to do it well. Students must find out for themselves their approaches. As a result of his work with this grant, Dr. Gantner has become recognized as an expert in this area, being invited to lead workshops across the country.
Beginning in 2012, Dr. Gantner has held a sequence of official positions in the Mathematical Association of America's Seaway Section. Beginning with first vice chair and program chair (2012 - 2014), then chair elect (2015), and then chair of the section (2015 - 2017), Dr. Gantner has been a leader in this community of several hundred mathematicians from New York and Canada. While in this position, he ensured the Section reevaluated its goals and visions and made changes to prevent the association from falling to stagnancy. Because the mission of the mission of the MAA is to advance the mathematical sciences at the collegiate level, it aligns with the professional goals of the Department of Mathematical and Computing Sciences and helps Dr. Gantner in the classroom and with advising.