Brian Cafarella

Hello, My name is Brian Cafarella, and I have been a math teacher for 24 years at both the K-12 and community college level. My research has focused on best practices as well as student experiences in community college math. This is important as math has been a longtime barrier for community college students.

In my first book, "Breaking Barriers: Student Success in Community College Mathematics", I examine the experiences of of a diverse group of students who once feared mathematics and placed into developmental math but eventually completed a college level math course. My hope is we can learn from student experiences as continue to shape the community college model.

In my second book, "Community College Mathematics: Past Present, and Future," I examine the rich history of community college math. I use faculty interviews and conceptual research to look at trends, initiatives, and mandates that have impacted the discipline from the 1970s through the present. I also focus on how we continue to serve a diverse community college student population. What lessons can we learn from the past and the present to help students sustain success in community college mathematics?