INFORMATION FOR
Every month during the academic year, we will spotlight a different member of the WP faculty or staff who plays a powerful role in student success.
Name: Paul von Dohlen
Title: Professor of Mathematics and Chair of Department of Mathematical Sciences
Years at WP: 19
Tell us about yourself: I am a lifelong resident of New Jersey. I grew up in Tenafly, in Bergen County, spending most of my childhood and early adult life living there before moving to Mendham Township in Morris County. I earned my bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and my master’s degree in applied mathematics at Columbia University before getting my PhD in mathematics at Stevens Institute of Technology. I live with my wife, Kyleigh, and our two children, Max and Addy, as well as our dog, Bella, a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog. (My kids insist that I include Bella in any list of our family!) I am a big sports fan with my favorite teams being the New York Yankees and the New York Giants.
Describe your role on campus: My primary role is as a faculty member in the Department of Mathematical Sciences. For the past several years, I have also served as department chair, but the most essential (and most rewarding) part of my work is teaching. I enjoy teaching a variety of mathematics courses, but a couple of my favorites are Numerical Analysis and the Mathematics of Machine Learning. In addition, I have participated in numerous department, college, and university committees. Most notably, I have served as one of the chairs of the UCC (Undergraduate Core Curriculum) Council since 2021. The UCC Council played a significant role in the development of UCC 2.0, which is designed to give students clearer opportunities to build valuable skills and engage with important social issues. I have also worked extensively on developing and expanding Supplemental Instruction (SI) within the College of Science and Health, a program that helps students strengthen their understanding through collaboration with peer leaders alongside traditional classroom instruction. My current research interests are in sports analytics, such as lineup analysis in baseball and passer ratings in football.
A defining moment at WP: A defining moment from my years at WP was certainly the chaos of the pandemic’s effect on education in March 2020. That sudden transformation to how we approached our work, occurring amid a global crisis, seemed to accelerate so many changes to education. Years later, we still seem to be sorting out the effects, impacts, and challenges brought to the forefront by that time.
Favorite part about your job: My favorite part of my job is certainly teaching. The feeling of helping someone learn something new and enjoy the learning process is something I cherish. It serves as the core for everything we do here.
Fun fact: Both my mother and my wife are graduates of William Paterson University, although about 40 years apart!
Finish this sentence: "WP is a powerhouse of opportunity." I feel that the strength of WP is providing new and wonderful opportunities for a wide range of people. There are so many avenues of opportunity for growth through a William Paterson education and experience.
