I was born and raised in Pocatello, Idaho. I received my undergraduate education from Carleton College and my Ph.D in mathematics from the University of Colorado. I taught at Oberlin College, University of Arizona, the Autonoma in Guadalajara, Mexico and the Technion in Haifa, Israel. I've authored several papers and four books on mathematics. I have conducted summer mathcamps at the University of Arizona for both gifted students and gifted Apache Indian students for more than 20 years. I founded the Center for Recruitment and Retention of Mathematics Teachers at the University in 2000.