Rachel Barber

Biography

Hi there! I'm Dr. Rachel Barber, Assistant Professor of Mathematics at Hood College. I love teaching mathematics, and my goal is to help students see that math is more than numbers and formulas. It's a powerful way for us to explore patterns and better understand the world around us. Students tell me I bring a lot of energy and enthusiasm to the classroom.

I earned my Ph.D. in Mathematics from Mississippi State University in 2021, where I studied algebraic graph theory. My research focuses on graph symmetries, automorphism groups, Cayley graphs, coset digraphs, and related combinatorial structures. I am particularly interested in how algebraic methods can be used to recognize, classify, and better understand highly symmetric graphs and digraphs. Much of my recent work explores connections between graph structure and symmetry, as well as methods for determining automorphism groups of graph families arising from group actions. My publications can be found through my MathSciNet author profile. 

I'm also passionate about global learning. I've studied abroad in Turkey, Slovenia, and Romania, experiences that broadened my perspective and continue to influence how I approach teaching, learning, and collaboration. I enjoy helping students connect their classroom experiences to the wider world and encouraging them to embrace their curiosity, explore new ideas, and to be a lifelong learner.

One of my favorite mathematical fun facts is that I am a direct academic descendant of Paul Erdős, one of the most prolific mathematicians of the twentieth century. My Erdős number is 3, meaning I am connected to him through just three coauthorship links. You can explore my academic family tree through the Mathematics Genealogy Project.

When I'm not teaching or thinking about mathematics, you'll usually find me enjoying a cup of tea, watching K-dramas and other Asian dramas, and spending time with my family.