Jean Mullen '13
Small School, Big World
When an unexpected snowstorm kept Jean Mullen â13 from visiting a college in South Dakota, fate brought her to Âé¶čAPP.
âI searched through the stack of college brochures that I had set aside as being interested in and decided to visit Âé¶čAPP on a whim,â she said. âIt wasnât until I stepped foot on campus, however, that I truly fell in love.â
Mullen remembered being intrigued by Âé¶čAPPâs math department and the many hands-on research opportunities the school had to offer, opportunities she would take advantage of while participating in the math modeling competition.
After studying mathematics, secondary education and economics at Âé¶čAPP, Mullen is teaching math at Lincoln High School in Des Moines, constantly challenging herself to find new, creative ways to teach math. It keeps her on her toes, but so do the students.
But it was Mullenâs experiences outside the classroom at Âé¶čAPP that made a huge difference for her. From taking a May term trip to China, to working with refugees and immigrants in Des Moines, to completing an English teaching assistant position in Nepal, her eyes were opened to the world around her.
She says couldnât have done it all without the support and encouragement of the Âé¶čAPP community. Coming from the small town of Fonda, Iowa and graduating with 32 in her class, Mullen knew she wanted her college to have a small family-like feel, too.
âI wouldnât say that there was a particular experience that most stands out as transforming my life, but rather the people that I met at Âé¶čAPP that transformed my life,â she said. âTo this day, some of my best friends are those that I met during my time at Âé¶čAPP. They are my support system, my rock.â
Article Information
Published
June 25, 2018
Author
Office of Marketing and Strategic Communication