University Honors Professor Spotlight
To honor his contributions to the honors students of CSULB, the first UHP Professor Spotlight on our site is Dr. Will Murray!
Murray, a creative professor, loves to combine his two passions of mathematics and juggling and take them around the globe. He has performed in circuses, theaters, and on TV at various times. Performing is a great perk, but Murray does it for the love of the art. It gives him an excuse to make connections with friends from all over the world. Murray incorporates juggling into his number theories class, which led to the inception of CSULB’s juggling club.
Murray loves to push honors students in creative ways that go beyond the standard curriculum. He loves teaching at CSULB because of the countless opportunities, activities, and organizations. “Honors students are very willing to explore and often find interesting angles,” Murray says. “[Some] that I hadn’t considered myself.”
Murray says CSULB is good at getting people into small groups where they get to know each other and support each other! “UHP is the apogee of this ideal,” Murray says. “Small classes, with students moving in cohorts from one class to the next so they really bond and support each other. It’s a fantastic community.” Compared to his previous tenure at UC Berkeley, Murray appreciates the small and friendly environment of classes where he can really get to know his students.
Dr. Murray urges UHP students to engage in their intellectual curiosity. The lessons that you learn are just the tip of the iceberg. “Don’t trust us to bring the world to you – go out aggressively and explore it yourself,” he ended.
