Suzanne Ferguson has been tutoring, teaching, and mentoring in mathematics since 1997. Her background is as strong in theoretical mathematics as it is in teaching and educational resources.

Her experiences as a student in the University of Minnesota Talented Youth Mathematics Program (UMTYMP) and later at the Univeristy of Wisconsin – Madison prepared her for the rigor and deep understanding of higher mathematics necessary to tailor her teaching techniques for each student—carefully explaining the problems and concepts in exactly the way each student needs.

Suzanne’s extensive teaching background—over 10 years tutoring and teaching secondary and post-secondary courses including all levels of Calculus—has given her the patience, insight and experience necessary to help create an individualized and unique teaching method for each and every student.

Suzanne’s tutoring approach combines a review of book material, homework, old exams, and quizzes with Suzanne’s own personal strategies for each subject. Suzanne carefully evaluates each student’s work habits and learning style in order to create a teaching method for that student.

Her technique blends a traditional pencil and paper approach with advanced calculator skills to make sure that the student understands how to manipulate the mathematics with or without the aid of technology. She focuses on the need for mathematical understanding and growth of personal study skills.

Suzanne began her teaching career while in high school as a teaching assistant for the University of Minnesota Institute of Technology Center for Educational Programs (ITCEP) for its Saturday and summer courses.

She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, graduating with honors, from the University of Wisconsin in 2002. While obtaining this degree, she tutored all levels of mathematics and taught small discussion sections for TRIO Student Support Services.

After college, Suzanne taught Precalculus and AP Calculus (AB and BC) at Wayland Academy in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, followed by a position teaching Algebra 1 and Precalculus at Saint Bernard’s Academy in St. Paul, Minnesota. In later years, Suzanne taught Algebra 1, Geometry, and College Algebra at The International School of Minnesota. Suzanne also spent 3 years working for Kaplan Test Prep teaching and tutoring SAT, PSAT, ACT, and GRE courses.

Suzanne currently devotes all of her time to tutoring privately throughout the Twin Cities metro area. Suzanne carries approximately 20 students each semester as ongoing private tutees along with additional students on an as-needed basis throughout the year.

• Unofficial Transcript from the University of Wisconsin – Madison (PDF)
• Detail of Mathematics Courses (PDF)
• Resume (PDF)

Suzanne’s research experience consists of two National Science Foundation funded REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates) programs and a senior thesis through the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Below is a listing of the time and place for each research experience, as well as an abstract and paper when available.

• REU at Tulane University, New Orleans, LA Summer 1999
  Suzanne worked with Kyen Waldron, then an undergraduate at the University of Oregon, under the direction of Tulane Univeristy Professor Dr. James Rogers. This paper was published in the Rose Hulman Online Journal of Undergraduate Mathematics, Volume 1, Issue 1. PDF
• REU at Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA Summer 2000
  At Mount Holyoke College Suzanne worked in a group with undergraduates Sarah Croog (Mt. Holyoke), Peter Kim (MIT), Lee Stemkoski (Boston University) and Cornelia Yuen (UC Berkeley), but her research was done independently. Her advisors were Dr. Alan Durfee and Dr. Donald O’Shea, both of Mount Holyoke College. Suzanne used methods of A’Campo to find local equations for polynomial knots.
• Senior Thesis at the University of Wisconsin, Madison 1999-2000
  This work was under the direction of Dr. Peter Orlik, of the University of Wisconsin – Madison. The research is to understand hyperplane arrangements in complex projective two-space, specifically of 3 and 4 hyperplanes. Suzanne was awarded the Mark Mensink Research Grant in 1999 for this work.