Faculty Spotlight - Dr. Jeffrey Mudrock
Posted on May 16, 2025 by Innovation in Learning Center (page mirrored by Audi Byrne)
This content is mirrored from the orginal faculty spotlight at https://www.southalabama.edu/departments/ilc/facultyspotlight_mudrock.html.
Memorize as Little as Possible; Understand as Much as Possible
Dr. Jeffrey Mudrock is driven by a passion for unveiling the beauty and practicality
of mathematics to his students. His dedication to meeting students where they are
and fostering a deep appreciation for mathematical concepts is evident in his teaching
philosophy. “I get no greater joy than when my students see mathematics for what it
is: a beautiful, profound, and incredibly useful art.”
Dr. Mudrock firmly believes that true mathematical proficiency comes from understanding, not memorization. He challenges the traditional approach to learning math, where students often rely on memorizing formulas and tricks to solve problems. “Despite the experiences of most people in elementary, middle, and high school mathematics classes, learning math is not a process of memorizing formulas, procedures, or even proof techniques. Successful mathematics students are those who focus on understanding why formulas, procedures, and proof techniques work.” By emphasizing conceptual comprehension, he equips students with critical problem-solving, analytical thinking, and communication skills, abilities that extend far beyond the mathematics classroom and into their academic and professional careers.
However, shifting students away from the habit of memorization presents a challenge. “I want students to see the value in gaining a deep understanding of mathematical concepts. When students focus on understanding rather than memorization, their problem-solving, critical thinking, and communication skills improve immensely.” His philosophy has proven successful, as reflected in more than 13 years of overwhelmingly positive student feedback, including recent thank you notes:
Thank you so much for helping me understand math. I have never been good at it and because of that, I always hated it. You’ve really changed my perspective and made me look at it a different way. You’re an amazing teacher and your energy cannot be beat. Without you I definitely would not be as successful as I am now.
Dr. Mudrock’s innovative teaching extends well beyond the classroom. During his 12 years at the College of Lake County in Grayslake, Illinois, he pioneered undergraduate research opportunities in mathematics, leading to the successful submission of 12 original mathematical papers to peer-reviewed journals. Now at the University of South Alabama, he continues his commitment to student research through a graph coloring research group. “By having South students work on mathematical research with a group of diverse students, I want to give them the opportunity to foster their mathematical talent and encourage their creativity in problem-solving. I also want them to appreciate the mathematical mysteries that still exist today and give them the chance to experience the euphoria of making an original mathematical discovery.”
Beyond his contributions to higher education, Dr. Mudrock is a devoted Chicago Bears fan with a love for contemporary Christian music. He also finds inspiration in the works of legendary mathematicians Gauss, Euler, and Erdős, whose discoveries continue to shape the field of mathematics.
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