In this episode of Humans of Iowa State, Steve Butler, a mathematics Morrill Professor, discussed his status as a campus celebrity and his motivation to pursue mathematics, as well as his connections to his students and wife. 

“I came to Iowa State in 2011,” Butler said. “I was post-doc[torate] and I was looking for jobs. I interviewed at several places. As I tell people, ‘Iowa State had that one special quality: they were willing to pay me.’”

Butler began his episode with his Iowa State story. He originally came to campus because it was a well-paying job at a respectable university. Little did he know, he would soon fall in love with the campus culture and the reform of the calculus program.

“[The University] said we want people to really focus in on undergraduates,” Butler said. “That was my job.”

Butler discussed his motivation to pursue mathematics. In high school, Butler struggled with his math grades until he realized it was all one big puzzle. From then on, math was the only class he wanted to take.

“How do people know me?” Butler said. “A lot of people say, ‘Steve, that’s the guy in charge of the math department.’ No, I’m not. Or they’ll say, ‘That’s the guy in charge of the calculus program.’ Not anymore. In some sense, I have very little responsibility.”

Students at Iowa State have come to love Butler for his calculus review videos. These videos consist of course material review as well as conveniently placed jokes to keep his students entertained. Now, Butler has more subscribers than Iowa State’s very own athletics YouTube channel. 

“What I am known for is calculus, and mostly because I have some videos,” Butler said. “This started many years ago. Back in 2016, I thought, ‘Maybe I can record and post my lectures online.’”

To have a chance to be the next Human of Iowa State, apply using this link.

To view Butler’s story, click the watch link at the top of the article.