Christian Hellings has joined theDepartment of Engineering and Societyat the University of Virginia School of Engineering as an assistant professor of applied mathematics. His arrival marks a return to UVA, where he received his Ph.D. in mathematics. As a graduate student, he studied operator theory, which remains a research interest, along with indefinite inner product spaces and complex function theory. He also studies the mathematics of voting. Prior to arriving at UVA, Hellings was an associate professor of mathematics at Gwynedd Mercy University near Philadelphia, where he had been a member of the faculty since 2004. At Gwynedd Mercy, he taught undergraduate math at all levels, served as coordinator of the mathematics program and was the faculty mentor for the Student Association of Science. Before entering academia, he was a mathematical analyst for Metron Inc., a consulting company in Northern Virginia. Hellings earned his B.A. in mathematics and physics at La Salle University in his hometown of Philadelphia. He is joined in Charlottesville by his wife and son. “We are pleased to welcome Chris back to UVA and to theapplied math program,†saidW. Bernard Carlson, the Joseph L. Vaughn Professor of Humanities and chair of the engineering and society department, which also is home to UVA Engineering'sscience, technology and society programand business minor. “His excellence as an educator make him a perfect fit to complement our faculty. The applied math curriculum is a critical part of a UVA Engineering education, as it allows our students to develop a high level of analytical and problem-solving skills. Our APMA program combines theory with practical applications, thus ensuring that our students are well-prepared to become researchers, designers and leaders in industry,†Carlson said. “Chris knows how to connect with students to make sure they are equipped to thrive, both in their undergraduate studies as well as in their careers.â€