Kitrick Fynaardt
Mathematics
Phone 712-395-0736
Email kitrick-fynaardt@uiowa.edu
Address Iowa City, Iowa
ABOUT
My name is Kitrick Fynaardt. I am 5th year mathematics PhD candidate at the University of Iowa. My research in delay differential equations is advised by Dr. Colleen Mitchell. I am a lifelong learner and deeply passionate about excellent teaching. My goal is to be a tenured professor at a liberal arts college where I can have the opportunity to share my love for mathematics with students that I know personally.
SKILLS & EXPERTISE
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I have been a primary instructor for multiple classes over multiple semesters, gaining experience running my own classroom, writing my own lesson plans, and meeting department standards.
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I had the amazing opportunity to teach Pokémath: the Mathematics of Pokémon GO, a unique class that helped students see the math behind video games and other areas of life.
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My interdisciplinary research in the area of mathematics in biology has helped me with diving into new topics I have no previous experience with, as well as working with faculty across disciplines.
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My double majors of math and computer science in undergrad, combined with my research in modeling biological processes has made me comfortable with both abstract math on the page and numerical analysis with computer programs like Mathematica and MATLAB.
TEACHING
EXPERIENCE
2021 - Present
Teaching Assistant
Calculus, Engineering Math, Math for the Biological Sciences
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa
2022 - 2023
Primary Instructor
College Algebra, Pokémath: The Mathematics of Pokémon GO
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA
2018 - 2021
Tutor
Mathematics: Calculus, Logic, Linear Algebra, Real Analysis
First-Year Seminar: Speech
Northwestern College
Orange City, Iowa
EDUCATION
2021 - Present
University of Iowa
Mathematics PhD (In Progress)
Iowa City, Iowa
2017 - 2021
Northwestern College
Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics
Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science
Summa Cum Laude
Orange City, Iowa
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
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Pokémath, a class I helped design and pioneer with my advisor, received national recognition in Newsweek magazine.
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In the 2024-2025 academic year I was selected to be a Teaching Fellow and attended monthly meetings with other TAs and staff from the Center for Teaching discussing best practices in discussions and lectures.
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I received the Outstanding TA Award, which recognizes teaching assistants who have demonstrated outstanding abilities and support for students.
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In Spring 2025, I was able to focus solely on research thanks to the Graduate College Post Comprehensive Research Fellowship, an award that recognizes students with distinguished academic achievement.
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In October 2024 the Ella W Peer Estate granted me the Dale T Peer Scholarship, an award given to graduate students who show drive and determination to be great instructors.