WC Wisconsin News

Every few years, a teacher encounters a student who rekindles their passion for teaching. For University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (UWL) Mathematics faculty members Eddie Kim and Whitney George, that student was Kelly (Emmrich) O’Connor.

During her undergraduate years at UWL, O’Connor impressed her professors with her curiosity and passion for mathematics. After earning advanced degrees and teaching at the collegiate level, she is set to return to UWL as a faculty member in the Mathematics & Statistics Department this fall.

“Kelly was that student you really got to share your passion with,” says George. “We had her here for four years. Now, hopefully, we’ll get her for the rest of her career.”

O’Connor describes returning to UWL as a homecoming. Her love for mathematics began during one of George's courses at UWL. Inspired by clarity and understanding in math concepts, she changed her major and discovered a love for teaching while tutoring fellow students.

Her advocacy for women in mathematics took root after attending national conferences during her undergraduate years. In graduate school at Colorado State University (CSU), she organized CSU’s first Sonia Kovalevsky Day to encourage young women in math.

At UWL, O’Connor hopes to launch new programming for women in math and revive the Women and Minorities in Mathematics group she helped establish as a student.

The support from UWL faculty played an important role in shaping O’Connor's teaching philosophy. She emphasizes knowing students personally beyond their academic performance.

Kim recalls changing his travel plans to attend O’Connor’s graduation ceremony due to their strong mentor-student relationship. He also attended her wedding in Fort Collins, Colorado.

George looks forward to welcoming O’Connor back not just as an alumna but as a colleague: “It’s going to be plain fun to watch her redefine her relationships with past professors and build meaningful ones with our students,” she says.