Meet Izabella Bourland - Math - The University of Utah

Izabella Bourland joined the Department of Mathematics in the fall of 2024 as a Program Assistant.

Where did you work before joining the Math Department?

Before joining the Math Department, I worked at Tracy Aviary as an environmental educator. I gave tours and provided site interpretations to guests and ran educational programming for schools. I also worked outreach events across the Wasatch Front and at the Nature Center at Pia Okwai. After Tracy Aviary but before the Math Department, I lived in Budapest for a year, traveling and spending time with my family.

What are your duties in this position?

As a Program Assistant, I have my hand in a few different buckets. I assist faculty, staff, and students in anything from finding information to assisting in projects. I support faculty with technical things such as reimbursements, registering travel, and ordering supplies, and larger things such as running the Summer High School Math Program and writing articles for our website.

What do you enjoy most about working in the Math Department?

I really enjoy seeing students be passionate about their education and working towards their goals. It inspires me to keep working towards mine! I also enjoy getting to know so many different people and learning about their passions.

What was your undergraduate degree?

I graduated from the University of Utah in 2022, with a B.S. in Environmental & Sustainability Studies, and a B.S. in Anthropology. My long-term goal is to inspire community action using these frameworks to protect our land and our water.

What are three things you like to do in your spare time?

I like to try a lot of different things, and I’m always learning a new skill. Right now, I spend a lot of my free time with my friends climbing or doing yoga. We also do a lot of crafting, focusing on fiber arts, collaging, stained glass, ceramics, and painting.