Dr. Marcus Fries is our chair of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science as well as an associate professor of mathematics. We’re glad to have Dr. Fries starting his second semester at DSU. Keep reading to find out more about him including what he loves about teaching and what he enjoys doing when he’s not in a classroom!

Where are you from, Dr. Fries?

I grew up in Mott, North Dakota, but have lived the last 18 years in the Boston area.

Can you tell us a little about your life before you came to Dickinson State?

I went to Mott High School and took part primarily in music. I went to NDSU and graduated with a degree in mathematics. From there, I moved to Boston to pursue a doctorate in mathematics at Northeastern University. After graduate school, I took a position at Eastern Nazarene College in Quincy, Massachusetts. I was promoted to department chair and then to head of computational sciences.

What led you to choose DSU?

I’ve wanted to return to the Midwest for several years, and when the position at DSU opened, I happily applied.

What is something you love about the subject you teach?

I love the application part of basic mathematics. There is so much out there that is mathematically based that people don’t even realize. One fun area is the theory of voting. There are many other voting systems which are probably superior to the ones currently used. I love showing students that math is more than just numbers.

What do you enjoy most about teaching?

I love showing that mathematics has a beauty outside of application, that it is worth pursuing even before we know an application is possible.

Do you have an accomplishment that you are most proud of?

I have co-authored a book on the theory of voting and apportionment. I also have a 3rd-degree black belt in taekwondo.

What do you like to do with your free time?

I’m an avid board gamer and have a significant collection of games. I used to run a weekly game night with friends and hope to start that here.

I have been married for almost 14 years and have two children, a boy and a girl.