New Additions: Welcoming Professor Benjamin Moldstad to Mount Marty University

Benjamin Moldstad is excited to share knowledge with his students as Mount Marty's new mathematics professor. "I hope that students are able to find some excitement in mathematics and learn some cool mathematics they would not normally get to see in classes. I hope to be able to find ways mathematics can help them with their respective major or in other ways that get them excited about math."

Moldstad received his bachelor's in mathematics from Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, Minnesota. He received his master's degree from Montana State University, and while attaining his Ph.D. from the same institution, was able to teach various mathematics courses, help out with linear algebra and topology courses, and participate in some reading groups concerning the subjects of knot theory, category theory and algebraic topology. Moldstad completed his Ph.D. this last spring. 

There were two moments in Moldstad's life when he knew he wanted to teach. At first, he considered majoring in mathematics to enter industry after his master's, but one professor who would later become Moldstad's advisor changed that plan. "The professor's enthusiasm for math and love of math really inspired me to continue to study pure mathematics and to want to express this love of math with others." The second impactful moment for Moldstad was early in his graduate studies when he taught a calculus class for business students — which is usually not a course required in business degrees. "The students came into the class thinking that they did not enjoy math and were going to do business anyway, so why take calculus? However, by the end, many students remarked that it was their favorite class that semester, and seeing how engaged with the material and connected with math they were was really a fun moment for me to see."

Moldstad decided he desired to be closer to family after graduation, and that is when he stumbled upon Mount Marty. "I was excited to find Mount Marty, which was a school similar to my background, and immediately applied. I love the core values of Mount Marty, and I felt like I would fit in quickly. My wife was also very excited about moving to Yankton, and two of her sisters live in the area, so it really felt like a great fit." Moldstad was recently married to his wife, Laura, last August, and they have a fun-loving one-year-old puppy named Nels at home. "She is quite energetic and loves to say hi. She makes it to school a few times a week, especially on Tuesdays and Thursdays." Moldstad invites anyone looking for some puppy attention to stop by anytime.

Moldstad knows the importance of Mount Marty's core values and hopes to exemplify them. He said, "I hope that I can help reflect the Mount Marty core values in my life, as well as help show others how mathematics fits into the picture in regards to these core values." He relates two of the core values to mathematics. "One of the core values is lifelong learning, and I am convinced if this intrigues you, then mathematics is the subject for you. One perspective of mathematics is it is the science of how to learn. Math is all about breaking a complex problem into smaller portions and learning to make precise statements that can be evaluated as true or false. Another is community. I feel that mathematics is notoriously difficult, and one way to help aid with this is to work together with each other in order to learn mathematics. Most math research is done as a team, not as an individual. Furthermore, mathematics can be used to help aid the community and others around us." 

In his spare time, Moldstad loves to be active outdoors whether it's hiking, running, archery, fishing — especially fly fishing — skiing, or rock climbing. He also enjoys playing his guitar and chess. "I would love to start a chess club if there is interest, as I learned to play a lot during graduate school. I also love to watch sports and hope to make it to many of the sporting events." 

Welcome, Professor Moldstad! We're excited to have you in the Mount Marty community.

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About Mount Marty University

Founded in 1936 by the Benedictine Sisters of Sacred Heart Monastery, Mount Marty University is South Dakota's only Catholic institution of higher education. Located along the bluffs of the Missouri River in Yankton, with additional locations in Watertown and Sioux Falls, Mount Marty offers undergraduate and graduate degrees focusing on student and alumni success in high-demand fields such as health sciences, education, criminal justice, business, accounting, and more. A community of learners in the Benedictine tradition, Mount Marty emphasizes academic excellence and develops well-rounded students with intellectual competence, professional and personal skills and moral, spiritual and social values. To learn more, visit mountmarty.edu.