Phi Kappa Phi is proud to feature 2024 Pioneer Award recipient Victoria Wiest. Wiest is pursuing degrees in mathematics and psychology at California State University, Fresno, where she is a member of the Smittcamp Family Honors College.

As an undergraduate, Wiest has conducted extensive research in graph theory, knot theory, number theory and math education. She has presented her research at multiple conferences, including the Nebraska Conference for Undergraduate Women in Mathematics and the Joint Mathematics Meetings. Wiest will also be presenting her research at the 15th International Congress on Mathematical Education in Australia and at the 46th North American Chapter of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education conference. She is also a Cal-Bridge mathematics scholar and a recipient of the President’s Honors Scholarship.

Wiest has made the most of her time at Fresno State by actively seeking out research and professional development opportunities. After securing a spot in Research Experiences for Undergraduates at St. Mary’s College of Maryland as a freshman, she continued to pursue math-related experiences, including attending the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics conference. Wiest served as a math tutor and instructional assistant, guiding her peers toward similar opportunities.

Wiest’s passion for math education is deeply personal. Diagnosed with fibromyalgia in fifth grade, she has managed chronic pain and fatigue throughout her academic journey. Her experiences have shaped her understanding of the challenges many students face and inspired her to pursue research focused on how students learn and understand mathematics. “The student interacting with the math is who we are teaching,” she said. Wiest hopes to help transform how math is taught and understood, emphasizing empathy and working with students rather than only focusing on math.

Wiest said, “I learn forward by not letting difficulties stop me from always learning. I learn from my mistakes and continue pushing forward. I believe that learning is as much about resilience as it is about attaining knowledge.” She has worked tirelessly to develop her research, engagement and leadership skills. Phi Kappa Phi is proud to recognize her efforts and are confident that her scholarly future is bright.

Phi Kappa Phi is currently accepting applications for its Pioneer Awards. Fifty $1,000 awards are distributed annually. Will you be one of the next Phi Kappa Phi Pioneers? The deadline to apply for one of the 50 awards is June 1, 2025.

For more information about the Pioneer program, including eligibility and selection criteria, visit www.phikappaphi.org/pioneer or contact Kelli Partin at kpartin@phikappaphi.org.