My name is Rachel Bailey and I am a Ph.D. candidate in the Mathematics department at the University of Connecticut under the supervision of Dr. Masha Gordina and Dr. Maxim Derevyagin. My research lies in the study of orthogonal polynomials and operator theory. I am very passionate about teaching mathematics and want my students to never shy away from asking "why?" Mathematics was built on asking questions and my goal as an instructor is to foster a learning community which encourages curiosity, builds students' confidence and problem solving skills, and allows students to show growth in their learning. I am excited to be joining the faculty at Bentley University and taking on the role of Assistant Professor of Mathematical Sciences in the fall 2024!