Professor Corey Manchester: Making Math Class A Little Bit Hotter

If square roots aren’t your thing, then at least Professor Corey Manchester’s boyish god looks will give you something to study in math class. San Diego State students voted their favorite math teacher into the Rate My Professor’s “Top 50 Hottest Professors” list. We fought off his starstruck admirers long enough to get in a little Q and A with mathematician.

My Colleges and Careers: What was your initial reaction to being ranked as one of the nation’s hottest professors?

Professor Manchester: I was really flattered, but I just don’t get it!

My Colleges and Careers: How familiar were you with ratemyprofessor.com?

Professor Manchester: Very. I know it’s the primary resource for students picking classes. I know alot of professors hate it, but I think it’s good that they’re being held accountable for being less than stellar at their jobs.

My Colleges and Careers: Do you think this sort of category is frivolous and silly or fun and interesting?

Professor Manchester: I guess a little of both. I also won “Favorite Faculty Member of the Year” this year, and that means far more to me than anything based on physicality.

My Colleges and Careers: Has anyone ever told you that you resemble a celebrity? If so, who?

Professor Manchester: Hmmm..not that I recall. At least not in adulthood-when I was little, people always told me I looked like Ricky Schroeder (blonde and freckly).

My Colleges and Careers: What do you love about being a professor?

Professor Manchester: Oh gosh…so many things. I love being able to explain a difficult concept to a group of people who probably aren’t huge fans of the subject. I love being able to show them that everything in their lives in based on math. I love making them think about math in a totally different way. I love giving them an appropriately nurturing environment for math (rather than a sink-or-swin approach like many professors deliver).

My Colleges and Careers: Are you going to leverage this title for a salary increase?

Professor Manchester: Yah right. I’ll be lucky to not be laid off, given the state of the California budget!