MAGPIES is a monthly online program for 4th-9th grade girls* who want to explore math in a collaborative, inclusive setting. Come develop problem-solving skills, work on open-ended problems, and meet other girls who love math and like challenges!
*All students who identify as female are welcome
Our Mission is to provide an opportunity for girls in 4th through 9th grade to develop and enhance their problem–solving skills and become independent and confident thinkers. Activities are both accessible and open-ended, providing engaging challenges for all ages.
Want to help spread the word about MAGPIES? Our one pager contains a synopsis of our program goals and a QR code to this website!
Our creator Professor Lauren Rose was recently featured in an interview with Robofun about MAGPIES!
Our Team
Undergraduate Staff:
Julia Crager is one of the lead coordinators of MAGPIES, with guidance from the Bard Trustee Leader Scholar program, as well as the website manager. She is a senior mathematics major at Bard with a passion for art, languages, and travel.
Felicia Flores is a math major at Bard College and a current Trustee Leader Scholar for MAGPIES.
Shea Roccaforte is a current graduate student at the University of New Mexico obtaining her Master of Accountancy. She graduated from Bard College in 2021 with a Bachelor’s in Mathematics. She is passionate about making math accessible to all and sparking curiosity in young girls; she believes in bringing people skills to a technical industry. Shea loves using critical mathematical thinking through puzzles and games—especially the Rubik’s cube.
Jazmin Zamora is a Bard Alumna from Queens, NY. She holds a degree in Mathematics and co-founded Magpies alongside Lauren. Though she works a full-time job, she likes to be involved with Magpies as a coordinator and educator. She is passionate about making STEM accessible and teaching math in a fun, collaborative space. In her spare time, she likes to read and explore the city.
Skye Rothstein is the lead coordinator for Magpies at Bard College — currently a junior majoring in computer science, and assisting with Lauren’s Puzzles and Games course. Skye is from Brooklyn and has a passion for carpentry, origami, and martial arts.
Oliver Vanderploeg is a student at Bard, class of 2025. He is majoring in Mathematics. In addition to helping Magpies, he is part of the EMS squad at Bard. He likes camping trips, board games, and chocolate chip cookies.
Cathy Zhang is one of the coordinators at MAGPIES and a current student at Bard College at Simon’s Rock. She is interested in Math and Computer Science and is fascinated by how they could be widely applied in life and integrated interdisciplinarily. Being an international student herself, she’s also passionate about supporting others in minority groups, especially those who are gender and racial minorities.
Faculty:
Lauren Rose is a mathematics professor at Bard College in upstate NY. In addition to teaching throughout the mathematics curriculum, she mentors and trains Bard undergraduates to do math outreach and to conduct pure math research. She is a co-organizer of the Julia Robinson Math Festival Community Math Circle and was selected as a 2022 Fellow of the Association for Women in Mathematics. Her main goal in life is to make deep mathematics fun and accessible to as many people as possible. She is the creator and Executive Director of MAGPIES.
Amanda Landi is a faculty of mathematics at Bard College at Simon’s Rock, since 2015. She earned her PhD in Applied Mathematics from NCSU in 2015. You can find more information about Amanda’s research, teaching, and service on Simon’s Rock webpage and her personal website. She likes cheeseburgers, fries with ranch, and hot coffee.
Kariane Calta is a mathematics professor at Vassar.
A. Gwinn Royal
Support MAGPIES
MAGPIES is a not-for-profit educational program that relies on multiple sources of funding, including its supporters. Help us continue to produce math materials and programs. Donations are greatly appreciated.