Jeff Reitz
Professor of Mathematics
301-387-3019
jeff.reitz@garrettcollege.edu
Jeff Reitz
Professor of Mathematics
Academic area: Mathematics and Statistics
Bio:
A native of Pennsylvania, I had lived in upstate New York and in Alabama before coming to Garrett County, where I have put down roots. My house is a twenty-minute walk from the college, and I typically walk to and from work every day, even on the coldest days of winter. Prior to my career in education I had worked in the landscaping business. I am passionate about landscape design – it’s an artistic pursuit that counterbalances my cool mathematical side. My one-acre property is my canvas, and in the summer you will often find me working long days with a pick, shovel, and wheelbarrow creating the landscape of my dreams.
Academic Degrees
- A.S. Horticulture, Temple University at Ambler
- B.S. Mathematics, Penn State University
- M.A., Ph.D. Mathematical Sciences, State University of New York
Teaching
- College Algebra
- Introductory Statistics
- Precalculus
- Calculus
- Differential Equations
Research Interest
My interest is in reforming the general education mathematics curriculum so that it better serves the needs of students in a wide variety of disciplines. I advocate the teaching of quantitative reasoning, a thinking tool that is essential for fully understanding the social, economic, and environmental issues of the day. By stressing interdisciplinary connections and problem solving in real-world contexts, I hope students will come to appreciate the value of mathematics in their academic, professional, and civic lives.
Interests
- Landscaping and landscape design
- Outdoor activities such as hiking, bicycling, kayaking, and swimming
- Bird watching and nature study
- Music of all sorts
- Singing
- Spiritual practices
- Professional sports, particularly the NFL
