Dr. Ryan Moruzzi, Jr

About me:

To start, I am a husband, dad, avid sports fan, and mathematician. I enjoy hanging with my family, being outside, playing/watching sports, and thinking about mathematics! These are what make me up as a person navigating life.

As an alumni of Cal Poly Pomona, where I received my Bachelors of Science in Mathematics in 2010, I am excited to be working with the diverse students as an assistant professor at California State University, East Bay. In my educational journey, I have overcome many obstacles and found successes with the help of many mentors, allowing me to pass along a unique viewpoint that resonates with many students. For more about my journey, read "More About Me" below.

Prior to joining California State University, East Bay, I was a Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow at Ithaca College and completed my PhD work at the University of California, Riverside. Currently, my research area is the representation theory of Lie algebras which is a branch of the larger field of Algebra.

As an assistant professor, I am active in forwarding and growing our educational community through actions of equity, inclusion, and anti-racism. Through my experiences both in K-12 and higher education, I see how inequities perpetuate a system of hierarchy and racism in the classroom and community. I strive to be intentional with my actions, working towards breaking down racist traditions that are both visible and invisible in education. I am open to having conversations about such topics, just reach out!

More About Me

I am first generation college graduate born and raised in Rialto in Southern California. I attended schools in the Rialto Unified School district which include Bemis Elementary, Jehue Middle School, and Rialto High School. While at Jehue Middle School and Rialto High School, I was in the GEAR-UP program (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs), which is a "grant program of the U.S. Department of Education that increases the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education" by offering "support services to high-poverty, middle and high schools." This program helped me visit college campuses, along with making me aware that going to college is possible.

While at Cal Poly Pomona, I was part of GEAR-UP as a mentor, going to La Puente High school in the Hacienda Heights-La Puente school district, located about 20 miles east of Los Angeles. I valued my time as a mentor, spending the days inside the classroom working with students, as well as in the after school program aiding students with their work along with providing them with insights I learned from going to college.

Also while at Cal Poly Pomona, I also worked at a Sylvan Learning center in Rialto, CA teaching K-5 students from schools receiving funds from the NLCB (No Child Left Behind) Act. I worked with students who were below grade level in reading and mathematics, helping them become proficient in the subjects. More so, I would help them realize they can do well in school despite previously struggling, and closing opportunity gaps amongst students.

Through all my experiences, I am aware of various privileges that are afforded in education. This influences my choices and impacts how I approach aspects of my teaching and research. I always enjoy conversing with others about both, just reach out!