The mathematics department is delighted to welcome Joy Oslund as a new faculty member.  Joy has lived, studied, and worked in many different parts of Michigan:  she earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Oakland University; her MA in Education from Northern Michigan University; and her PhD in Teacher Education/Math Education from Michigan State University.  After getting her undergraduate degree, she taught 2^nd and 6^th grades in southeast Michigan and in the Upper Peninsula.

While teaching in these very different parts of the state, Joy became deeply interested in issues of access and equity in mathematics education. She wanted all of her students to have opportunities to learn interesting and beautiful mathematics so they could experience pleasure in math and also achieve whatever career goals they wished.

Joy left K-12 teaching to pursue these questions as a doctoral student, and she has continued that scholarly work through a variety of positions that include being a research associate, a faculty member in an education department, and now a faculty member in the GVSU mathematics department.   In addition to studying the teaching and learning of mathematics at the elementary school level, Joy teaches her own classes in which the students are aspiring elementary teachers.  In that part of her work, her favorite thing is engaging in important conversations with students.  Whether talking about a math problem, a problem of teaching practice, or an issue in a school or community, she finds the experience energizing. 

In her research, Joy studies the knowledge that elementary teachers need in order to teach mathematics in ways that engage all students in challenging and interesting mathematics. Teaching mathematics requires more than just knowledge of the subject itself.  For example, teachers need to understand mathematical ideas in the elementary curriculum from an advanced perspective, including big mathematical ideas, different representations of ideas, and connections among seemingly different ideas. They also need to understand how children's mathematical understandings develop and how to support that development. Even more, these understandings are linked with students’ math identities, beliefs, and the contexts in which they work.  Joy’s research is about understanding these pieces of teacher development in order to develop teacher preparation coursework and professional development that not only helps them to become more effective teachers but does so in ways that are life-giving and energizing.

Joy’s entire career shows her commitment to public education in Michigan. Since leaving K-12 teaching, her dream was to have a math education position in a public, comprehensive university that cares about and supports good teaching and research. It is really important to her to be surrounded by people who value the knowledge of elementary teachers, work collaboratively, and care about equity.  Joy shares, “So far, my experience at GVSU has met all of those expectations!”

Away from work, Joy enjoys pottery, knitting, swimming, and being in the woods. She is interested and involved in organizations for educational justice, adoptee rights, and disability rights.  She also loves to spend time with her husband, daughters, dog, and cat.

We’re so glad that Joy decided to join us at GVSU. We appreciate all that she has already contributed to our department in her first year and look forward to the things she accomplishes in the future.