Alumnus returns to Randolph as visiting math professor

Caleb Moxley

As a student at Randolph, Caleb Moxley ’11 experienced great personal and academic growth, in large part due to the close relationships he formed with professors. This semester, he’s getting the opportunity to build those relationships with his own students.

In his role as visiting math professor, Moxley is teaching Pre-Calculus, Introduction to Quantitative Reasoning, and Calculus II. He is also teaching Randolph’s first-ever topology course.

“I’m really looking forward to teaching here,” Moxley said. “It’s been really refreshing to reminisce on my time as a student and to see people that I haven’t seen in such a long time, and to remember them and for them to remember me.”

A mathematics and religious studies double major at Randolph, Moxley earned his Ph.D. from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in December 2016. While working towards his Ph.D., he taught math courses at UAB, Samford University, the Brock School of Business, and Birmingham Southern College. During this time, he realized his passion to teach at a small liberal arts college, and he was excited to learn of the opening at Randolph.

Moxley understands the unique benefits of a Randolph education firsthand. As a student, Moxley was a Writing Lab volunteer, a Gold Key guide for the admissions office, and a member of Randolph’s Ethics Bowl team. He also served on the Judiciary Board and was a member of the Touch of Harmony musical ensemble.

“Randolph engages students in a way that enriches their experience intellectually and academically, but also their character, sense of well-being, and their vitality,” he said. “It’s just a really special place where connections are especially strong, and where students are especially interested in growing personally as well as academically.”

Besides wanting to serve as a mentor to current Randolph students, Moxley also strives to help them discover ways that mathematical concepts can be applied to everyday life.

“I want students to know that it’s useful and that they will be able to apply it in their future careers, whether they’re a high school English teacher or if they’re a statistician for a Fortune 500 company,” Moxley said.

He also hopes to give back to the Lynchburg community. While living in Birmingham he was a volunteer for his local library’s Start the Adventure in Reading (STAIR) children’s literacy program. He was also involved in LGBTQ advocacy programs like the Change Project and Birmingham’s Gay Men’s Chorus. In addition, he was a volunteer for several AIDS services programs and was a member of his church’s choir.