Professor demonstrates career does not determine your passions

By: Omsalama Ayoub

Business Manager

“[Not once growing up] did I consider teaching,” said Mark Tenney, a mathematics professor in the engineering department, on how he got to be where he is today. 

Instead, as a kid Tenney wanted to be a mail carrier and as he got older his passions ranged from forest ranger to oceanographer to musician and eventually to mathematician. 

Tenney, who started off as a music major studying Woodwinds and Percussions at the University of Albany, took Calculus III as an elective. Although Calculus is an acne inducing course to some, Tenney never found the subject intimidating.

“For me, it is as rewarding as it is satisfying to share the wonders of mathematics with others,” said Tenney reflecting on how he realized he could profit from his passion for math.

Like the average college student that enjoys what they study, Tenney often found himself gushing over his favorite subjects to family and friends.

“[I went on about] the Banach-Tarski Paradox, or Antoine’s Necklace,” he said.

Tenney also reminisced about his college career.

“I earned tuition money by gigging locally in a jazz trio called Page Three,” he said. “[I was eventually] given the opportunity to teach during graduate school, and I have never looked back since.”

Tenney has fully considered the life he might have had, if he had decided not to teach math.

“There is a parallel universe in which I did not major in mathematics,” he said. “There, I tried a career in music, unfortunately, without the showmanship to make it as a performer, I was limited to studio work,” Tenney continued. “Worse still, the industry found me sufficiently mediocre [which] set me searching for other full-time work.” 

The time lapse with Professor Tenney’s schedule complicated this profile proving that exams do not only stress students but also their professors. However, Tenney leads a colorful life outside of his lecture halls and his corner office in the Bulmer Telecommunications Center.

One thing he enjoys is trying to expand his mind outside of math. He stated, “Currently, I am reading Jared Diamond’s “Guns, Germs, and Steel”. I regret not having found this book sooner.”

“Guns, Germs, and Steel” is a book about the concept of the emergence of societies and how social development is dependent on land determinism. Besides Diamond, Tenney’s favorite writers include Samuel Beckett, Richard Dawkins, Erving Goffman, Christopher Hitchens, George Lakoff, Bertrand Russell, Stephen Toulmin and others.

“My favorite activities include biking along the Mohawk River with my younger daughter, hiking the High Peaks with my son, discussing current events, books, religion or culture while taking long walks with my older daughter and enjoying a concert with my wife,” continued Tenney.

The only advice Tenney had to offer his teenage self was a dramatic claim. “Quality of life is at stake!” 

Tenney also warned about the dangers of figuring out how to claim your personalized parameters for success.

“Strive to balance the demands of academics, family, friends, hobbies and work,” he said. “Expect the balance to shift over time and recalibrate accordingly.” 

Tenney emphasized the importance of attempting to enjoy school. 

“Success in mathematics, properly experienced, cannot be separated from enjoyment,” he said. “What is the point of successfully learning what amounts to grinding out solutions? Leave the grinding to computers!”