Abate Finds Community and Creativity in Math
Nicolette Abate discovered community in the UT math department during a Tennessee Governor’s School and graduated this spring with undergraduate research experience.
Math has always been important to Nicolette Abate, and in UT’s Department of Mathematics, she found encouragement and opportunities to take her interest to new levels.
“When I was about 8, I stopped my mom from buying too much Thanksgiving turkey by converting the pounds to ounces and calculating how much we needed,” Abate said. “From there, math became part of how I understood the world.”
The summer before her senior year of high school, she attended a Tennessee Governor’s School at UT and took a math course with Professor Remus Nicoara.
“I found myself surrounded by people who loved math just as much as I did, and I left feeling deeply inspired,” she said. “During that program, I also learned about the sense of community within the UT math department. I knew I wanted to be part of that same collaborative and welcoming environment.”
Abate is a member of the Mathematics Honors Program in the Class of 2026, with a second major in Hispanic studies and a minor in leadership.
“Dr. Joan Lind has been an ongoing source of encouragement and guidance, helping me choose courses, being my teacher, and overall supporting and encouraging me,” Abate said.
“My undergraduate research under Dr. Remus Nicoara has also been influential, as it has encouraged me to look into the more creative aspects of math using both coding and theoretical approaches,” she said.
Courses such as the honors abstract algebra and analysis sequences with Associate Professor Marie Jameson and Professor Michael Frazier strengthened her proof-writing abilities and prepared her for graduate-level courses.
“I am grateful for the various math scholarships I have received, as well as study abroad scholarships, that allowed me to put all of my efforts into my coursework, research, and student organizations,” Abate said.
As an undergraduate, her activities outside the classroom included being involved in the Student Government Association and serving as a peer mentor for Spanish courses, developing communication and other skills she will carry into her future roles in education and research.