Dr. Cecilia Arias was born in Chile and immigrated to the United States at a very young age. Through formal schooling, she discovered that mathematics was a subject that she enjoyed and came naturally to her. As she progressed through more advanced mathematics and watched her friends struggle, Cecilia became interested in tutoring to help others. It was through these early experiences helping others that Cecilia became interested in teaching mathematics, although that wasn’t necessarily her first career choice. A fun fact about Cecilia is that had she not become a high school math teacher first, she had plans to study engineering and to design roller coasters for a living!

Cecilia is currently an instructor in the Math Department at Rutgers University, often teaching liberal arts math courses for non-math majors and future teachers. She has facilitated math, science, and technology professional development opportunities for K-12 teachers across the state of New Jersey as part of the Center for Mathematics, Science, and Computer Education at Rutgers. Because of this passion for supporting teachers in engaging all their students in mathematics, she was instrumental in founding 4D Math Alliance, a non-profit organization dedicated to mentoring K-12 teachers nationwide. She volunteers her time serving as the Treasurer of the organization, as well as serving as a mentor and professional development provider. More recently, Cecilia has served as the Program Coordinator for Rutgers Math Corps, a summer math camp for middle and high school students.

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“Hispanic Heritage Month is a reminder of who I am and where I come from. It is a reminder to be proud of the humble beginnings, the struggles, the small victories, and not to forget about my potential to lift up my community and serve as a role model for others.”

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