Fred Hickernell

As an applied mathematician, I value the absolute truth in mathematics. What is true today will be true tomorrow. What is true for you will be true for me. While the correct of application of mathematical truth may depend on the context, it's essential nature does not change. Even after studying mathematics my whole life, I delight in discovering some aspect that I did not know about before. I have found that truth about God is also absolute. God's holiness, my rebellion against him, and his bringing me back to him through Jesus work on the cross are truths that I grasped at an young age. But it has been a joy to spend a lifetime comprehending their full meaning and implications for my life. If you visit IIT, come by. I enjoy meeting and chatting with others who are interested in both academics and following Jesus.

My Life

Favorite Quote

Mathematics is easy when you understand it. If it seems hard, you just don't understand it well enough.

Friends describe me

serious, persistent, and having integrity

My hobbies

singing, tennis, eating Chinese food

Fantasy dinner guests

Blaise Pascal, David Hickernell (my ancestor who immigrated to the US), Michael Chang

Best advice I ever received

Listen more

My undergrad alma mater

Pomona College

My worst subject in school

English

In college I drove

Schwinn Typhoon bicycle

If I weren't a professor, I would

not be so happy

Favorite books

the Chronicles of Narnia, Have We No rights

Favorite movies

Chariots of Fire

Favorite city

Hong Kong, where I lived for 19 years

Favorite coffee

any kind

Nobody knows I

almost drowned in a swimming pool when I was young

My latest accomplishment

hard to say