Professor Spotlight: Tyler Brock
_______
Get to Know Tyler Brock| Lecturer |Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Hometown?
Cave Creek, AZ
Blue or Gold?
An amalgam of the two, inspiringly titled “Bold.”
Flagstaff summers or winters?
Summers ☀️
Spring or fall?
Fall 🍂
Your favorite spot on campus?
Old Main
Fav photo you’ve taken on campus?
Favorite place in Flagstaff to grab a bite to eat?
Delhi Palace
Your favorite picture on your phone?
When did you come to NAU & why?
Fall 2011 for freshman year of college. I had just graduated from high school. NAU was still close to family but gave me enough distance from home.
I knew I wanted to stay in Arizona and Flagstaff was on the top of the list of cool towns to go to.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
“Just a few jewels that’s hidden in plain sight
Ain’t nothing else to it but to do it, but do it right.”
— MF Doom
What is one tip every Lumberjack should know?
Go talk to your teachers! You’re paying a lot of money for a college education. Luckily, the ability to converse and interact with professional educators and professors comes with the deal.
It is awfully difficult to learn from strangers. Do what you can to make sure your teachers aren’t strangers. It makes the learning process much more enjoyable.
What’s your favorite NAU tradition?
Trying to walk around in the local Target during family weekend.
What do you want the NAU community to know about your department/class?
I’ll defer to Stephen Hawking on this one:
“Equations are just the boring part of mathematics.”
I think it’s easy to have an image of mathematics that focuses on rigidity and memorizing procedures. Truth be told, that stuff is only a very small part of math. The vast majority of studying mathematics is about creative problem solving.
Sometimes embracing the unknown and the struggle and the confusion can make a thing much more interesting. I think that is definitely the case with mathematics.
What is something students might not know about you?
I love 90s and early 2000s hip hop.
Something you can’t live without?
Definitely a good cup of coffee.
Describe your typical day on campus?
I get to my office in the morning and fight the urge to make more cups of coffee while I grade papers. After I lose this fight, I drink way too much coffee.
By the time I teach my first class of the day, my body’s caffeine levels rival that of a pre-roasted coffee bean.
I teach my classes, have some office hours, and walk around in search of more coffee.
If I’m lucky, I have some time to play some tennis at the Aquatic and Tennis Complex. Then, I call it a day.
On the weekends, where can we find you?
Out in the woods somewhere, probably hunting or fishing.
What is your dream vacation look like?
New Zealand has always been a dream trip of mine. The trout fishing is amazing and the mountains look beautiful. ⛰
What songs can you listen to on repeat?
“Accordion” by Madvillain
“Devil in a New Dress” by Kanye West
“33 God” by Bon Iver
“Nights” by Frank Ocean
“Cartoon & Cereal” by Kendrick Lamar
“Everything in its Right Place” by Radiohead
“N.Y. State of Mind” by Nas
“Renegade” by Jay-Z & Eminem
“Retrograde” by James Blake.
Any hidden talents?
My jump roping skills are pretty legit.
What are you currently watching?
Random fly fishing shows on YouTube. And I’m always watching old episodes of Arrested Development.
Currently reading?
Nothing right now (besides a few math textbooks…)
Favorite podcast?
WTF with Marc Maron
