Countless students have benefited from mathematics faculty members Dana and Tony Vazzana as they approach nearly 30 years together at Truman.

IT’S NOT REALLY ABOUT THE MATH. Ask a mathematician what excites them about their field and the answer might sound like a spiritual testimony with terms like “truth” and “certainty” rather than discussion of quadratic equations or linear regression.

“There is something satisfying about the existence of an objectively right answer that can’t be debated,” said Dana Vazzana, professor of mathematics.

It is a sentiment shared by her colleague and husband.

“What is particularly satisfying to me is the certainty of mathematical truths,” said Tony Vazzana, professor of mathematics. “I have always been engaged by solving puzzles of various kinds, and mathematics provides an unlimited source of these.”

In the simplest terms, mathematicians are problem solvers. They evaluate all the relevant variables, position them accordingly and work the equation to find the solution. Fittingly, when Dana and Tony met as grad students at the University of Michigan they each served as a problem solver for the other.

“I was working on filing all of the initial paperwork, and the administrative assistant was directing me to various offices all over campus to get my ID, office keys and paycheck paperwork,” Dana said. “I looked confused when she kept describing different buildings, and Tony stepped up and offered me a map.”

That initial act of chivalry earned reciprocity.

“I didn’t have a car, and Dana took pity on me,” he said. “We regularly did our grocery shopping together. I tried to express my gratitude for this once by making her dinner, but I think that only deepened her sense of pity.”

The next major variable in the equation of their story came after earning their Ph.D.s and entering the job market at the same time. At one point, they each had offers in hand, but in different parts of the country. When Truman’s Math Department expressed interest late in the hiring process, the Vazzanas did not exactly see the situation in the same light.

“I wrote back and said that we were not interested,” Tony said. “Dana, on the other hand, gave a more nuanced, ‘No, not unless you can interview us this week and give us a decision right away,’ and that is exactly what happened.”

Truman turned out to be the perfect fit. Dana and Tony earned their undergraduate degrees at the University of Illinois and the University of Notre Dame, respectively. They were looking for a small to mid-sized liberal arts school for their academic careers. It helped that Truman is close to home for Dana, an Iowa native.

“It was always exactly what we wanted: a school that focused on teaching, with small classes, great students and a strong sense of community,” she said.

Working with students has always been a passion for both Dana and Tony. Beyond teaching a subject matter they enjoy, fulfillment comes from helping students reach their potential, especially in the face of adversity.

The most rewarding times are when I have a student who struggles initially but eventually turns things around. It’s really thrilling to see a student take action and have the kind of success they hoped for initially.

– Tony Vazzana

“The most rewarding times are when I have a student who struggles initially but eventually turns things around. Sometimes I’ll meet with a student early in a semester after a test that hasn’t gone well, for whatever reason. We talk about strategies that might lead to better results,” Tony said. “It’s really thrilling to see a student take action and have the kind of success they hoped for initially. Even better than the achievement in the moment is knowing that when the student next encounters a setback, they will have this experience of rising to meet a challenge and persevering.”

While she continues to teach classes, Dana has also assumed the role of director for Truman’s Academic Professional Development Center. The APDC provides resources for faculty members, including classroom support tools, mentoring guidelines and regular lunches on specific topics.

“I moved into faculty development because I saw students struggling and wanted to devote more time and energy to learning how to help them and to help my colleagues improve teaching across campus,” she said. “It has been great to see the APDC grow over the years. We had almost 60 people at the last lunch event this year, and it is great to see so many faculty get involved in events that promote good teaching.”

Since their arrival in 1998, the Vazzanas have taught the spectrum of mathematics classes at Truman. Violette Hall has served as their home away from home throughout their careers, but an office reshuffle placed them on opposite sides of the building years ago.

“We joked that we were now in a long-distance relationship,” Dana said. “It’s nice to be able to talk over teaching issues with him. Sometimes I do have to declare ‘no more work talk!’ if I’m trying to relax and he’s contemplating curriculum revisions out loud or something.”

During those work-free times, the Vazzanas have any number of activities to keep them occupied. They both enjoy being outdoors when the weather is nice. Tony can often be found watching a sporting event, depending on what’s in season, while Dana likes to sew or try her hand at the New York Times crossword puzzle. Given enough time, dinner might be an overly complicated new recipe. With both of their children out of the house and pursing their own careers, the Vazzanas take pleasure in the slower pace of life.

“The evening might be capped off sitting on our back deck reflecting on days gone by and imagining future adventures to come,” Tony said.

Or, possibly thinking of the next problem to solve.