Where Math Meets Opportunity: Bloomfield College Hosts the MAA-NJ Fall 2025 Meeting
Student volunteers got a front-row seat to the many ways mathematics can become a lifelong career – both within and beyond academia.
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On Saturday, October 25, 2025, Bloomfield College of Montclair State University proudly hosted the Mathematical Association of America — New Jersey (MAA-NJ) Fall 2025 Meeting.
The statewide event brought together educators, researchers, and students from across New Jersey for a day of presentations and workshops exploring new ways of teaching, learning, and applying mathematics.
Six Bloomfield students volunteered at the event, helping everything run smoothly while getting a first-hand look at how mathematicians are shaping the future of the field.
A Day of Learning and Connection
The meeting featured a full schedule of presentations, workshops, and paper sessions spanning topics from classroom innovation to artificial intelligence – showcasing just how creative the world of mathematics can be.
Highlights Included:
- Dr. Lauren Rose of Bard College gave a demonstration of EvenQuads – a card game that she invented with Jeffrey Pereira. Later, she led a workshop that guided teachers through creative ways to use puzzles and games in their classrooms, showing how play can deepen mathematical understanding.
- Bloomfield’s own Dr. Grace Cook presented her research on “ChatGPT as a Teaching Assistant: Creating Test Banks for Math Courses,” while Dr. Dov Zazkis shared insights into how undergraduate students approach mathematical proofs.
- Brett Jefferson of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory closed the day with a presentation on “Building a Unique Career Within and Outside of Mathematics.”
Student Involvement and Impact
Six Bloomfield College students volunteered for the event, helping with everything from setting up tables and chairs to giving directions to visiting guests.
Student volunteers also had the opportunity to sit in on the sessions that matched their interests, where they saw firsthand how mathematics extends beyond theory – whether it’s being used to design games that make learning fun or to build careers in research, data and technology.
In return for their efforts, each student volunteer was given a free mathematics book of their choice. But the biggest takeaway of the day was inspiration and clarity about the many ways they could turn their passion for math into a career.
How Bloomfield Helps Students Turn Passion into Careers
At Bloomfield College, students benefit from small class sizes and professors who take the time to know their names, interests, and goals.
Through opportunities like volunteering at the MAA-NJ conference, students gain real-world experience, build professional connections, and see firsthand how their studies can lead to future careers.
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