Joshua Helston, the Former Assistant Professor and Chair of the Math department of Mount Saint Mary’s University, joined the upper school math department this year.
After receiving a bachelor’s degree from Gustavus Adolphus College, Helston earned an master’s degree in mathematics from UCLA. He is currently enrolled in a doctoral program in Organizational Change and Leadership at the University of Southern California, focusing on gender gaps in specific science, technology, engineering and math fields.
“I plan on learning a lot from my students and also learning a lot about the Harvard-Westlake community; I am just very fortunate and happy to be a part of it,” Helston said. “I am really most excited about getting into the classroom and really interacting with the students. Right now it’s a lot of administrative stuff but I like being in the classroom and I fueled it up, I am looking forward to that.”
Helston taught math at Mount Saint Mary’s University starting in 2004. This year, Helston will teach Algebra II with Analysis and Precalculus.
“It seems like the community here was set up in such a way that any obstacles don’t feel like they are insurmountable,” Helston said. “I feel support from administrators [and] teachers. I haven’t met any students yet but those that I have seen [at school] here seem very supportive and excited to be here.”