At Convocation each year, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville honors faculty and staff with UW-Platteville and Universities of Wisconsin awards, recognizing their excellence and dedication. In this year’s articles about the recipients, we are spotlighting their journeys, passions and the paths that brought them here.
Dr. Chris Frayer, professor of mathematics at the UW-Platteville, was selected as one of the recipients of the 2025 Alliant Energy James R. Underkofler Excellence in Teaching Awards. This award is funded by an endowment from the Alliant Energy Foundation, Inc. to recognize and reward extraordinary undergraduate teachers at Universities of Wisconsin schools within Alliant Energy’s service area.
Q: How long have you been a mathematics professor at UW-Platteville?
I’ve just completed my 17th year with the department. It’s hard to believe how quickly the time has flown by; it feels like I only just started.
Q: What strategies do you use to keep your students engaged with the coursework?
My class discussions are designed with built-in pauses that turn my students into active participants. The more my students engage in discussion, the more successful I consider the class. My favorite part of teaching is the one-on-one interactions with students—in class, during office hours, or while working on a research project. I especially enjoy witnessing their growth over the course of a semester, and in some cases, across multiple semesters as I see them in future courses.
Q: When did you first know that teaching was the right path for you?
I have always enjoyed math. When I started college, my plan was to become a high school math teacher. During my second year, I discovered that I loved mathematics just as much as I loved teaching. Going to graduate school and eventually having the opportunity to teach at UW-Platteville, with its emphasis on high quality teaching, has been the perfect fit for me.
Q: What's your go-to activity when you have some downtime?
I love spending time with my family: my wife, Kelly; our two daughters, Nora (10) and Eva (13); and our golden doodle, Luna. I enjoy listening to audiobooks—especially while walking outside—and try to spend as much time as possible outdoors. I'm equally happy walking the dog, doing yard work, hiking, spending time outside with my family (at the pool, beach, biking, walking, etc.), or taking my daily walk to campus. Last summer, we got a stand-up paddleboard, which has been an absolute blast!
Q: What’s your favorite food—and is it something you can get around Southwest Wisconsin?
I'm pretty simple when it comes to food. We cook and eat at home whenever possible. I prefer real foods—meat, vegetables and fruit. I know—it's a bit boring. My favorite indulgences are ice cream and chocolate. When it comes to drinks, coffee is my favorite, and my family always enjoys visiting local coffee shops, ice cream shops, and bakeries.
Q: If you could visit any place in the world, where would you go and what draws you to it?
Hawaii. I visited on a family vacation when I was in college, and it was both beautiful and rugged. We had an amazing time enjoying the ocean—beach, scuba diving, snorkeling, swimming, fishing—and hiking. I would love to go back and experience it again with my own family.
Q: If you weren’t a teacher, what career path do you think you might have pursued instead?
I love problem-solving, and I often find myself thinking, “Wow, career X would be fun.” I could easily see myself as an actuary or an engineer. Interestingly, my identical twin brother is an engineer, and my sister was an actuary.
Q: What advice would you give to someone preparing to become a math teacher?
Teaching is an extension of your personality. It should reflect your unique perspective on the topic, sense of humor, communication style, values and passion. Always be open to new and different approaches. Never stop learning. Most importantly, have fun!