Samara Chamoun

Samara Chamoun is a postdoctoral researcher in Notre Dame Learning’s Kaneb Center for Teaching Excellence. Under the supervision of Kathy Quardokus Fisher, Samara works with the Foundational Course Transformation Academy (FCTA) team, contributing her expertise on building students’ math self-efficacy, supporting their well-being, and developing lifelong skills to the redesign of math courses.

During her time as a graduate student at Michigan State University, Samara was the primary instructor for several math courses serving both STEM and non-STEM students, ranging from gateway introductory courses to proof-based courses. She has experience using a variety of instructional techniques, including traditional and standards-based grading, in fully in-person, online synchronous, and asynchronous formats. She also served as a lead teaching assistant in MSU’s Department of Mathematics at the Center for Instructional Mentoring, supporting graduate teaching assistants through observations, small-group meetings, workshops, and teaching panels.

Combining her dedication to education and professional development with a desire to humanize mathematics, Samara is constantly exploring how math can benefit other fields like social sciences and educational development. She hopes to unite her passion for math with her interests in human behavior.

Samara earned her B.S. in mathematics from the Lebanese University, her M.S. in applied and computational mathematics from the Lebanese American University, and her Ph.D. in mathematics from Michigan State University. While at MSU, she completed the Certification in College Teaching.

In her free time, she enjoys art, reading, visiting new places, and watching shows. She also hosts a podcast, Diary of a Graduate Student, which features conversations with academics about graduate school and life.