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Math Department March Spotlight
Dr. Ziwei Ma
Background
Dr. Ziwei Ma was born in Akesu, Xinjiang, in Northwestern China. He now lives in Tennessee with his wife and two daughters. Since joining UTC in August 2020, this marks his sixth year with the university. In addition to teaching and research, he actively serves the department through the budget, undergraduate, graduate, and awards committees. He is also a member of the ASA Eastern Tennessee Chapter.
Educational Journey
Dr. Ma earned his B.S. in Mathematics and Applied Mathematics and his M.S. in Pure Mathematics from Northwest University in Xi’an, China. He later completed his M.S. and Ph.D. in Mathematics at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces. In December 2019, he received the Dean’s Graduate Award for Excellence from the College of Arts and Sciences at NMSU, the highest honor given to a graduate student in the college.
Inspiration for Mathematics
Dr. Ma was inspired by exceptional mentors during his time at Northwest University, especially Professor Yangeng Wang and Professor Shutang Wang. Their guidance and teaching sparked his passion for mathematics and shaped his academic path.
Advice for Students
His advice is straightforward and meaningful: Work hard. Be confident. He believes persistence and self-confidence are key ingredients for success in mathematics and beyond.
Overcoming Challenges
When facing challenges, Dr. Ma returns to the same principle, working hard and maintaining confidence. This steady mindset has helped him grow both personally and professionally.
Research and Accomplishments
Dr. Ma takes pride in applying mathematics and statistics to interdisciplinary areas such as biomedical engineering, economics, and clinical studies. Among his honors, he is especially proud of receiving Dean’s Graduate Award for Excellence during his doctoral studies.
Interests and Hobbies
Outside the classroom, Dr. Ma enjoys playing basketball, soccer, and badminton. In high school, he dreamed of becoming a rock-and-roll singer and admired artists such as Dou Wei, Zheng Jun, and Xu Wei. Today, he enjoys worship music and sings in his church choir. He also unwinds by playing guitar and reading history books.
Favorites and Relaxation
Dr. Ma chose mathematics because he genuinely enjoys solving mathematical problems and teaching math and statistics. He finds great fulfillment in helping students grasp challenging concepts.
What He Enjoys Most About Teaching
The most rewarding part of his work is hearing students say they have learned something meaningful or found inspiration in his lectures.
Personal Motto
“The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.” — Proverbs 18:15 (NIV)
