Margaret Otto is a recent addition to our campus, and to our department, and I can confidently state that not only has she adapted to the environment, but she has also made it a happier and more fun place to be.

I got to know Margaret last year when she was a student teacher. Immediately I could tell that she had perfected a balance between mathematical acumen and comic levity. She can be serious about math concepts and at the same time have a light-hearted and silly conversation about something utterly meaningless.

To say Margaret is talented is an understatement. She has a natural understanding of her content, but is always willing to learn more about the subtle nuances of the most complicated mathematical concepts. And at the same time, she is the personification of joy and fun, a combination which is hard to find.

Up until this picture was taken, I was unfamiliar with the French cut, which is how she wears her buttoned shirts. It’s a look that I could never pull off, but I’m quite okay with that.

Congratulations on your excellent taste in color choices, Margaret. I’m so excited to be working with you this year, and I look forward to many more years sharing wisdom and laughter.