July 28, 2008
Our People
Profile: Kevin Knudson
Last year, Dr. Kevin Knudson decided to teach himself origami—the Japanese art of paper folding--so he would be prepared to teach a new honors class.
His paper folding succeeded well enough and his "Origami: Math Meets Art" students ultimately decided to create an origami sculpture as their final class project. Using 48,000 folded business cards and more than 480 hours of labor, but no glue or tape, the 16-student class completed assembly of the head-high "Level 3 Menger Sponge." The sculpture is on display in Griffis Hall, home of the Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College.
Knudson, who serves as associate director of the honors college, also directs the Distinguished Scholars student group and is creating a new honors undergraduate research program. And, if that doesn't keep him busy enough, he also is an associate professor of mathematics.
"The best part of my job is getting to know students," he said. "This is a big university and by teaching and working in the honors college, I get to know students on a more personal level."
Next week … Lisa Chrestman !
