Skip To Content
Filter search
Cal Poly Pomona
  • LIBRARY
  • ONLINE SERVICES
  • DIRECTORY
  • MAPS
  • CALENDAR
  • About Cal Poly Pomona
  • Cal Poly Pomona Overview
  • Visitor Information
  • Campus Maps & Tours
  • News
  • Events
  • Administration
  • Annual Security Report
  • Campus Safety Plan
  • Admissions
  • Undergraduate Admissions
  • Graduate Admissions
  • International Admissions
  • Continuing Education Admissions
  • Military & Veterans Admissions
  • Financial Aid & Scholarships
  • Student Accounts & Fees
  • Outreach, Recruitment, & Educational Partnerships
  • Academics
  • Colleges & Departments
  • Majors & Degrees
  • University Catalog & Academic Schedules
  • University Library
  • Research
  • Academic Resources
  • Registrar
  • Campus Life
  • Student Services
  • Student Activities
  • Recreation & Fitness
  • Health & Wellness
  • Housing & Dining
  • Diversity
  • Calendars & Events
  • Campus Safety & Emergency Info
  • Athletics
  • Visit Athletics Website
  • Alumni
  • Visit Alumni Website
  • Giving
  • Why Give
  • Ways to Give
  • Where to Give

PolyCentric University News Center

Main Menu
  • About Our University
  • Admissions
  • Academics
  • Campus Life
  • Athletics
  • Giving
  • Expand/Collapse Menu
Browse: Home / 2010 / June / Perseverance Led Graduate From Fractions to Physics

PolyCentric

University News Center

Menu

Skip to content
  • About
    • Submissions
    • Contact
    • Department of Strategic Communications
    • PolyCentric
  • News
    • Browse by Topic
    • View All Stories
    • In Memoriam
    • Archives
  • Achievements
  • Announcements
  • Multimedia
    • Videos
    • Photos
  • Social Media Directory
  • Events
  • For the Media

Perseverance Led Graduate From Fractions to Physics

Posted on June 11, 2010

Perseverance Led Graduate From Fractions to Physics

2010 physics graduate Michael Mansell, second from the right, is part of Alex Small's research lab.

Michael Mansell’s interests range from theoretical physics to economic theory to computer programming, but he wasn’t always a whiz kid.

“I barely passed high school. My freshman-year GPA was 0.9. Sophomore year, it was 1-point-something,” he says. “I was a thug back in the day.”

Mansell, who was born in Riverside and raised in Baltimore, says he decided to change his life in 2003. Although he never got good grades in the subject, he always liked science and decided to challenge himself. He enrolled at Riverside Community College, taking remedial math courses to learn fractions and basic algebra. After three years at Riverside and four years at Cal Poly Pomona, he is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in physics, a published co-authored physics paper and tremendous enthusiasm for math and science.

“I hated math. I love math now.”

Mansell says he struggled immensely but constantly reminded himself to persevere. The physics faculty played an important role in advising him on his academic path – which classes to take, what projects to work on, how to network – as well as encouraging him to continue with his dream of earning a degree.

“I could speak with them very freely,” he says. “I’ve always been able to be upfront and real with them. They’ve always given the best advice.”

Mansell also learned an important life lesson from his professors: “They made it very clear that although my circumstance is different, now that I’m here, it’s very important to not expect anything different. Always work hard and never lose that focus because people will treat you the same no matter where you come from.”

Physics Professor Alex Small, his research advisor, says Mansell has accomplished so much despite his challenges.

“It’s very rare for someone starting off in community college taking remedial math to get good grades in quantum mechanics. He’s done more than students facing fewer challenges,” Small says. “His level of enthusiasm is rare.”

In April, Mansell, Small and another student published a paper, “Theoretical investigation of optical patterning of monolayers with subwavelength resolution,” in the journal “Physics Letters A.” After graduation, Mansell plans to continue his research in nanotechnology, percolation theory and microcontrollers, as well as apply for graduate school. On the side, he teaches math and science at a private school and as a home tutor, and runs an online business.

“I would definitely encourage students to never forget why they came here, whether it’s to get knowledge or to go out and make money,” Mansell says. “Keep that solid within your mind and focus on it so you don’t get caught up in the other activities that can hinder or impede your flow.”

His motivation for going to Cal Poly Pomona?

“I came here for knowledge,” he says. “Physicists, unfortunately, don’t make much money, especially theoretical physicists.”

(Photo: Michael Mansell, second from right, is part of Alex Small’s research group.)

Posted in News | Tags Alex, community college, computer programming, enthusiasm, grades, graduate, lab, math, Michael Mansell, nanotechnology, physics, research, Riverside, Science, Small, theoretical physics

POPULAR

  • COVID-19 Mass Vaccination Hub Opening at Cal Poly Pomona

    15545 views / Posted February 4, 2021
  • Newly Launched Vaccination Hub at CPP to Serve Thousands in the Region

    3197 views / Posted February 5, 2021
  • Inclusive Campus Survey Launches: Share Your View, We’ll Follow Through

    3003 views / Posted February 25, 2021
  • Drive-in Commencement Celebrations to Honor Class of 2020 and 2021

    1842 views / Posted March 3, 2021
  • Spring Campus Conversation: Cal Poly Pomona Readies to Reopen

    1480 views / Posted April 9, 2021

Picture of the Day »

New Filly

New Filly

Cal Poly Pomona in the News »

Artificial intelligence meets real friendship: College students are bonding with bots

Billy Chat gets major billing in this story on how CSU campuses are using AI bots to help students. Billy Chat’s friendly encouragement and quick response to questions has helped build relationships…

Come Home: Glenn Ishii & JiST Cafe


HERstory’ Panel Profiles Groundbreaking Women in Sports


California Math Research Institute to Host ‘Math and Racial Justice’ Workshop


Four Ways to Support Latinas/os during the Pandemic and Beyond


Tags
Alex, community college, computer programming, enthusiasm, grades, graduate, lab, math, Michael Mansell, nanotechnology, physics, research, Riverside, Science, Small, theoretical physics
About Cal Poly Pomona Feedback Privacy Accessibility Document Readers

3801 West Temple Avenue,Pomona, CA 91768

©2018 California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

All Rights Reserved