“I grew up observing lots of hard work,” says Flores, who is an assistant professor of mathematics at California State University Channel Islands, where she teaches courses on scientific computing, differential equation, and supervises undergraduate research. She is also a rising star at CSU Channel Islands, where she was named the 2018 Business & Technology Partnership Faculty Leader of the Year.
A co-principal investigator of a $2 million grant from the National Science Foundation that focuses on increasing faculty representation in STEM, Flores says that she is committed to ensuring that the field is diverse.
“I think about how I can create a pipeline so this path is more accessible to others,” she says.
Flores’ interest in mathematics blossomed when her father insisted that she and her younger sister join him at the flea market every weekend where the family sold goods for a living.
“I was the designated cashier,” says Flores, who, at the tender age of seven, was perfecting her math and developing social skills by interacting with the customers.
Dr. Cynthia V. Flores
