Meet Ella Addison-Taylor: How This Graduate Found Community and Purpose Through Math
Ella Addison-Taylor was just a toddler when she first visited CU Denver’s campus. She would come to work with her mom, Professor of English Joanne Addison, PhD, and paint or play games in her office. Years later, her mom would give her a tour of campus—but this time as a CU Denver student. “I call her my built-in navigator,” Addison-Taylor said. “It’s been nice to have someone who really knows the system and can help me navigate it.”
Addison-Taylor will earn her bachelor of science in applied math with a data science concentration this spring, but her lifelong connection to CU Denver won’t end there. She’s been accepted into PATH-GDS, a fully funded, two-year program between CU Denver and CU Anschutz. Through the program, she’ll earn her master of science in applied math with a data science concentration and get training in genomics research. Students in the program may pursue a PhD or go into careers in health care, mathematics, or data science.
Addison-Taylor credits CU Denver for helping her find her community, for fostering her love for math, and for giving her opportunities that will prepare her for the next chapter in her academic journey.
Transferring and Finding Community
Addison-Taylor was in a high school calculus class when she started to understand how the real-world application of math can shape our world. She knew that math-heavy subjects like physics and engineering interested her, but she wasn’t sure about college. After trying out CU Boulder, she transferred to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at CU Denver, where her mom has been a longtime professor. “I thought I’d go here while I figured out what I wanted to do,” Addison-Taylor said.
She quickly found a community, thanks in part to her professors. “They made an environment where I felt comfortable getting to know my peers,” she said. She met friends through her classes, group projects, and study groups. They connected over their shared interest in math and supported each other through challenging assignments and problems.
When she started taking upper-level math courses, her interest in probability and statistics grew. She learned that she could model virtually anything with math, like how a computer runs or the number of cars that will fit in a parking lot. “When you get to those courses, you can figure out what you really like,” she said. “I knew I wanted to stay at CU Denver once I was in it.”
The Power of Experiential Learning Opportunities
Not only has Addison-Taylor discovered what areas of math she’s most passionate about, but she’s also had opportunities to use her skills in research and in mentoring other learners.
For the past year, she’s been helping Professor and Department Chair of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences Julian Langou, PhD, in his research on LAPACK (Linear Algebra PACKage), a software designed in the 1970s to solve linear algebra problems. “It’s the foundation for a lot of current programing, and it’s used in a lot of places, including in the framework for macOS,” Addison-Taylor said. She’ll be working on that same package—and helping find ways to optimize it—in a summer internship at the computing software company MathWorks. Langou helped her land the role.
She’s also been serving as a learning assistant (LA) for Senior Instructor Pamela Whitten. She helps other students understand the coursework and connect with their peers, which has been an important part of her experience at CU Denver. “For me, I like talking to them and hearing their perspective on math,” Addison-Taylor said. “It’s way different from mine, because they are approaching it from a different application of it, like nursing or biology.”
Video: Meet Ella
What’s Next
Addison-Taylor will spend the next two years in the PATH-GDS master’s program conducting genomic research using biology, statistics, and computer science. The opportunity was recommended to her by the program’s lead, Associate Professor of Data Science Programs Joshua French, PhD. “Basically, they take math people and train them to do analysis on DNA and genetics,” Addison-Taylor said.
Whether she decides to pursue a career in the medical field or another math-related industry, she knows she wants to use her skills to help improve lives. “I like that math is a puzzle that I can figure out,” she said. “Sometimes that’s frustrating but, once I figure it out, it’s the best feeling in the world.”
For now, Addison-Taylor is looking forward to walking across the stage at commencement with the person who has been by her side through it all cheering her on in the crowd. “My mom will be at commencement,” Addison-Taylor said, adding, “I had a great time at CU Denver, and I’m excited to spend more time here.”