In Fall 2024, I had the unique opportunity to teach the Optimization course to both undergraduate and graduate students. It was a great pleasure to meet so many talented and dedicated students from various fields of Business and Mathematics. The students were highly engaged and eager to see real-world applications of optimization theory, so I designed a project in which they were asked to present their work in a five-minute video. I encouraged them to be creative in how they delivered their content—think outside the box and explain their work in innovative ways!

Curious about the results? They were incredibly impressive—full of fun, innovation, and learning. Seeing each student’s unique approach reinforced for me that true classroom engagement comes from giving students freedom and ownership over their learning. Sometimes, they just need guidance and the assurance that we are there to support and encourage them.