Coni Gehler
Mathematics Professor
College of Arts and Sciences

Why did you choose to come to River Falls?

My husband (then-boyfriend) had just finished law school and I had just finished grad school.  We had just gotten jobs in this general area so we could be together.  His job was in Ellsworth, and required that he live in Pierce County.  When we came to the area to look for a place to live, the first place we stopped was his new office.  The elderly secretary there told us that the best place for “young people” (well, this was 23 years ago!!) to live in Pierce County was River Falls.  We accepted what she said without question and moved here.

What are three characteristics of a successful student in your class?

1. An active learner in class:  The student not only attends class, but thinks about the problems I am doing as I do them and asks and answers questions.
2. Is focused on the learning, not the grade.  If the student focuses on the learning, the grade will come.
3. Takes responsibility for themselves, their course work, their situation.  This includes keeping up on the daily work, showing up prepared to class—especially on quiz and test days—and getting questions answered outside of class.

What is the most rewarding part of your job and why?

That’s easy.  When a student says, “Thank you, you’ve really helped me learn.”

Where is your favorite place to go in town and why?

The public library.  A great resource, full of magical stuff, and the staff is absolutely wonderful. Another favorite is walking through the residential area north and northeast of campus.  In the spring and summer there are wonderful gardens to look at, and in the fall the leaves are beautiful.  The architecture of the homes is always interesting to look at.

What is something you wish someone told you about college before you went?

Take the time and do the soul-searching required to make sure you’re headed in the direction that’s right for you—right for you in every way.

Did you always know you wanted to be a professor?  Why or Why not?

No.  In fact, I first became a software developer when I got out of graduate school because I didn’t want to deal with people.  Ironically, my favorite part of teaching is dealing with the people.

Why did you decide to teach at UWRF and how has your experience shaped you into who you are today?

I wanted to teach, wanted a local job, wanted to work part-time, and wanted summers off when my children were young.  That brought me to UWRF.  How has the experience shaped me?  It’s made me more sensitive to the situations of others.  It’s forced me to be more decisive and firm when faced with difficult situations.  It’s also made me much less shy and much less self-conscious.  Just ask my students—I’m sure none of them can imagine me as shy or self-conscious.

Tell us about a unique classroom experience.

I had a student collapse while taking one of my final exams  (I swear, it wasn’t because of the test).  Very scary.  I was impressed with how others responded to the situation—other students in the room, University Police, etc.

What place/park/event do you think everybody should see?  Why?

This might not qualify as a place / park / event to see, but the cheese curds at Copper Kettle are not to be missed.  My family has judged them the best in the area (and we have made it our mission to sample all of the cheese curds in the area).

Tell the story of an out-of-classroom encounter- either social or academic with one of your students.  How did this strengthen the student-faculty relationship or present the student in a new light?

Once I had a student who was a single mom with a baby.  She had childcare only during daytime hours, when she had classes.  With no evening childcare and no family in the area, she was finding it very difficult to do homework and study.  She would go home in the evenings and care for her child, and then try to do all of her homework and studying while the child was sleeping.  She was absolutely exhausted.  Talking with her really opened my eyes.  Everybody has a story; everybody has their own set of individual needs.  I can’t imagine every possible situation out there, so I try to keep in mind that every student has a whole story going on beneath the part that I see.  I can’t possibly accommodate all of the needs, but I try to bear in mind that they exist.

What was your first job out of college?

Working as a software developer for Cray Research, the supercomputer company, during the height of its success.  Very exciting and interesting.

If you were a student how would you be involved on campus?

I’d be involved with a political group.  I have very strong opinions, and I really enjoy being around others who share my views about politics.

If you could change any part of your job what would it be and why?

If I could, I would change *lots* of things about my job!  BUT, I keep showing up, so that must mean that there are more things that I like than things I want to change!

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