After a 42-year career at Oberlin College, Susan Jane Colley, the Andrew and Pauline Delaney Professor of Mathematics, is retiring. For over four decades, Colley has been a pillar of the Mathematics department, her impact stretching beyond the numbers and formulas she taught.
Dr. Colley arrived at Oberlin in 1983 after completing graduate school at MIT, and quickly became known for her dedication to students and her ability to make complex mathematical concepts accessible.
“Every single really difficult-to-digest idea that she would talk about, she would ground that with concrete examples, which I really loved,” College fourth-year Reefayat bin Shahjahan said.
Colley taught a variety of classes in her time at Oberlin, from introductory classes to advanced topics like group theory, geometry, and topology. She taught computational algebra at the undergraduate level, driven by a deep interest in algebraic geometry. Colley also taught multivariable calculus for decades using her own textbook. Colley recounted that she never took a formal course in the subject; despite this, her textbook, Vector Calculus, continues to be a trusted source for students at the College.
“She’d make sure you understood everything that was going on before … helping you out with the answer, which I think is the right way to do it, because it makes sure you’re fully grasping the content,” College third-year Shawn Lisann said.
However, Colley’s influence at Oberlin was never confined to the classroom. Students knew her for her sharp wit and genuine care, and she forged deep connections with them, often blending mentorship with humor. Colley fondly recalled a story of two Bay Area students, Joan Schein and Xuan-Thao Nguyen, OC ’90, who often shared meals at her house after meeting at a Talcott Hall dinner. Colley reconnected with both students the previous summer, trying to maintain bonds well beyond the students’ graduation.
For all the change she has witnessed in her years at Oberlin, what remained constant, she noted, was the spirit of Oberlin students.
“That [curiosity] hasn’t changed,” Colley said. “That’s why it’s wonderful to be here.”
As a mathematician, former editor-in-chief of the American Mathematical Monthly, and professor, Colley will continue engaging with mathematical scholarship after retirement and plans to be involved in collaboration in her field of specialization.
“[However] it’s important, I think, when one retires, to retire,” Colley said.
While she acknowledges the importance of gradually stepping back, she plans to remain in the Oberlin area and stay connected to the community. She also hopes to make time for non-academic pursuits, including playing the piano and reading for pleasure.
Reflecting on her journey, Colley expressed deep gratitude for the relationships she built.
“I would just thank all my students for putting up with me through the years,” she said. “Likewise, my department. I’ve been very happy, almost all of the time.”
On Monday, May 12, faculty and students will gather at a retirement party celebrating Colley’s dedicated service to the Mathematics department.
