professor joins math faculty
Nick Tabor
Issue date: 3/6/08 Section: News
Hillsdale College's math department sorted through 100 applications and traveled to California to find a new professor, but they didn't need to look far for the candidate they eventually chose: Ryan Hutchinson, older brother of Eric Hutchinson, Assistant Professor of Classics.
Professor of Math and Computer Science John Reinoehl, who led the search committee, said Robert's family connection did not influence their decision.
"I can honestly say he was treated just like everybody else," Reinoehl said. "We thought really highly of him when we met him in San Diego."
He said they met their top 30 candidates at a mathematics convention in San Diego, Calif.
But Ryan said his brother's presence at Hillsdale did influence his decision to teach here.
"I thought it would be special to be part of the same faculty with him," Ryan said. "I thought [it] would give me a chance to be more a part of his life as well."
He said their family is scattered throughout southern Michigan. He hasn't lived near Eric since their undergraduate days, but because Eric and his wife had a baby last year, Ryan said he especially wants to live near Eric now.
Ryan is unmarried. He's 30 years old, two years older than Eric.
Eric echoed his brother's sentiment.
"This will actually be really nice, to be a little bit closer," he said.
Ryan said he also finds Hillsdale attractive for its emphasis on teaching rather than research.
"It seems to have a really close-knit campus community," he said. "I expect that most of my time will be spent on duties related to teaching."
Still, he said he hopes to find time for his own scholarly pursuits as well.
He earned bachelor's degrees in physics and mathematics from the University of Michigan, he said. He received a doctorate in mathematics from the University of Notre Dame in May 2006.
He has taught at Bemidji State University in Minnesota since the fall of that year.
Reinoehl said the position's top four candidates visited Hillsdale's campus in January and February.
He said Hutchinson accepted the offer on Feb. 25. He'll start teaching in the fall 2008 semester.
Reinoehl said Hutchinson is not replacing anyone - his position is new, created to accommodate the expanding department.
He said they have no specific plans to add new math classes, but Hutchinson might have opportunities to create classes himself. His presence will also free the other professors up to teach new upper-level classes.
"That's up to [Hutchinson] to some extent, too," Reinoehl said. "There could be another course or two popping up in the math department."
Hutchinson said he'd like to teach classes on coding theory and cryptography, if the opportunity arises.
"I definitely will be waiting and seeing how things lie when I get there," he said. "We'll see how things go."
Professor of Math and Computer Science John Reinoehl, who led the search committee, said Robert's family connection did not influence their decision.
"I can honestly say he was treated just like everybody else," Reinoehl said. "We thought really highly of him when we met him in San Diego."
He said they met their top 30 candidates at a mathematics convention in San Diego, Calif.
But Ryan said his brother's presence at Hillsdale did influence his decision to teach here.
"I thought it would be special to be part of the same faculty with him," Ryan said. "I thought [it] would give me a chance to be more a part of his life as well."
He said their family is scattered throughout southern Michigan. He hasn't lived near Eric since their undergraduate days, but because Eric and his wife had a baby last year, Ryan said he especially wants to live near Eric now.
Ryan is unmarried. He's 30 years old, two years older than Eric.
Eric echoed his brother's sentiment.
"This will actually be really nice, to be a little bit closer," he said.
Ryan said he also finds Hillsdale attractive for its emphasis on teaching rather than research.
"It seems to have a really close-knit campus community," he said. "I expect that most of my time will be spent on duties related to teaching."
Still, he said he hopes to find time for his own scholarly pursuits as well.
He earned bachelor's degrees in physics and mathematics from the University of Michigan, he said. He received a doctorate in mathematics from the University of Notre Dame in May 2006.
He has taught at Bemidji State University in Minnesota since the fall of that year.
Reinoehl said the position's top four candidates visited Hillsdale's campus in January and February.
He said Hutchinson accepted the offer on Feb. 25. He'll start teaching in the fall 2008 semester.
Reinoehl said Hutchinson is not replacing anyone - his position is new, created to accommodate the expanding department.
He said they have no specific plans to add new math classes, but Hutchinson might have opportunities to create classes himself. His presence will also free the other professors up to teach new upper-level classes.
"That's up to [Hutchinson] to some extent, too," Reinoehl said. "There could be another course or two popping up in the math department."
Hutchinson said he'd like to teach classes on coding theory and cryptography, if the opportunity arises.
"I definitely will be waiting and seeing how things lie when I get there," he said. "We'll see how things go."
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