About Kristen

With a Ph.D. in Mathematics, a solid track record of peer-reviewed publication, and a wealth of transformative classroom experience, Kristen is a versatile, accomplished mathematician and an educator to the core. Dr. Beck’s rather abstract mathematical interests are complemented by solid computational skills which are evident in both her project work and industry-recognized certifications.

Anyone who knows Kristen well is familiar with her contagious passion for math, and the excitement with which she communicates it with others. Kristen truly believes that she can change anyone’s mind about mathematics. That belief is the engine of von Becker Consulting.

Kristen’s teaching journey began at the remarkably young age of 15, in a crowded swimming pool at Emler Swim School in Arlington, Texas. Starting as a deck assistant, Kristen was quickly promoted to instructor, and then swiftly rose through the ranks to become a trainer, then manager, and was ultimately entrusted with playing a key role in opening two of Emler’s first satellite locations in North Texas. This experience sparked Kristen’s passion for teaching, leading her to eventually trade in the swimming pool for a classroom as she pursued her college and graduate education in mathematics at the University of Texas at Arlington.

After finishing grad school in 2011, Dr. Beck accepted a Teaching Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Arizona, where she continued to engage in mathematics research and expanded her teaching repertoire to include courses like statistics, multivariable calculus, linear algebra, and cryptography. During this time, Kristen was also trained in the practice of Inquiry Based Learning and began to incorporate its philosophy and techniques into each of her own courses.

In 2014, Kristen accepted a tenure-track faculty position at Saint Mary’s College of California, where she further extended her teaching expertise to include more advanced courses including differential equations, real analysis, abstract algebra, and mathematical logic / proof-writing. During her time at Saint Mary’s, Kristen also became closely involved with the Orinda-Moraga-Lafayette chapter of the American Association of University Women, playing an integral role in launching and maintaining their annual STEM conference for middle school girls, a thriving day-long workshop event hosted by Saint Mary’s College.

In 2021, shortly after earning tenure at Saint Mary’s, Kristen made the difficult decision to leave academia in order to take a step back from the classroom and pursue more computational interests. After relocating to sunny San Diego, Kristen continued to provide freelance educational services while pouring herself into developing skills in computer programming, mathematical modeling, statistical analysis and data science, machine learning, and software development. Building upon her initial, rather rudimentary knowledge of Python as a scientific teaching tool, Kristen worked hard each day to develop a proficient understanding of and agency with the popular programming language, ultimately earning a PCEP certification. During this time, Kristen also earned a certificate in Machine Learning Engineering from UC San Diego Extended Studies where she gained hands-on experience with Python’s many data science and ML libraries (e.g. NumPy, Pandas, Matplotlib, Scikit-learn, Tensorflow), as well as numerous other solutions commonly used in the modern data science pipeline, like version control, web scraping, API integration, cloud computing, and containerization. Now armed with a solid computational foundation, Kristen is excited to provide educational support in the areas of computer literacy and programming.

Dr. Beck’s journey reflects a deep-rooted commitment to both academic and practical application. From her very early days as a swim instructor to her formal academic roles and beyond, Kristen has continued to expanded her teaching repertoire and engage in meaningful educational initiatives which resonate with her own passions. Her transition from academia to consulting marks a pivotal moment in her career, driven by a desire to contribute to a broader, more impactful, educational landscape.

In her current consulting role, Kristen leverages her diverse skill set to provide comprehensive educational support. Whether through online courses, personalized tutoring sessions, or engaging workshops, Kristen strives to instill confidence and mastery in mathematics, computer science, and beyond. Her deep expertise and unwavering passion make her a trusted partner in academic and professional development, enriching the educational experience for all learners.