Professor Francis Su, Who Wants to Make Math Accessible and Enriching for All, Will Be This Year’s Commencement Speaker
April 14, 2025
We’re happy to share that Dr. Francis Su, the Benediktsson-Karwa Professor of Mathematics at Harvey Mudd College and a former president of the Mathematical Association of America, will be this year’s Commencement speaker!
We got to know Dr. Su a bit earlier this year, when he visited Wheeler for a talk about the beauty and power that math can add to our lives. The topic is also the focus of his award-winning book, “Mathematics for Human Flourishing,” which has been translated into eight languages and offers an inclusive vision of what math is, who it’s for, and why anyone should learn it. Upper School students, faculty, and staff were so enthralled by Dr. Su’s presentation that he was the leading nominee among the senior class to be this year’s Commencement speaker.
“I’m excited to return to Wheeler,” Dr. Su says. “When I visited earlier this year, Wheeler students received me with such warmth and enthusiasm! So I look forward to celebrating this graduation milestone with you all.”
“After Dr. Su’s presentation last fall, I heard adults and students alike talking about how engaging he was,” shares Head of School Allison Gaines Pell P’23, P’25. “The intersection of mathematical problem-solving and human flourishing certainly struck a chord with our Upper Schoolers. When I announced that he accepted our invitation, our students audibly gasped with delight! I can’t wait to hear what he has to share with our soon-to-be-graduates as they set off into their next chapters.”
As for the academic and professional chapters in his own life, Dr. Su earned his Ph.D. at Harvard University, and his recent work has focused on applying geometric methods to understand how people make decisions. In 2013, he received the Haimo Award, a nationwide teaching prize for college math faculty. His work has been featured in “Quanta Magazine,” “Wired,” and “The New York Times.”
Upper School Teacher of Mathematics Alexandra Walsh, who organized Dr. Su’s visit earlier this school year, says that Dr. Su, “helps us answer the question, ‘Why learn all this math if I’m not going to use it?’ In his book ‘Mathematics for Human Flourishing,’ he argues that learning math goes beyond specific skills – it builds virtues, cultivating persistence, curiosity, meaning-making, and even compassion. He is an advocate for the inherent value of education, and believes that a good education can lead to a fuller and more meaningful life.”
We look forward to welcoming Dr. Su back to campus for Wheeler’s 136th Commencement on June 13!
