Chandra Mongroo, Doctoral Lecturer in General Education, received an EdD in Mathematics Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, and an MA in Applied Mathematics from Hunter College. She began teaching as an adjunct instructor of freshman mathematics at Hunter College, developing a deep curiosity for how beginning minds approach and think about mathematics, and a conviction that setting a strong foundation is essential to future success because math is everywhere. Her research examines what makes a learner ready to engage with mathematics at the tertiary level, with a particular focus on the roles confidence and growth mindset play in that readiness.