Celebrating Our 2026 PhD Graduates

This spring, we are proud to recognize seven outstanding doctoral students who have completed their PhDs at Baylor University: Blake Allan, Drew Anderson, Hayden Henson, Ellie Matter, Rafael Morales, Blanca Radillo-Murguia, and Pedro Takemura.

Earning a PhD is no small feat. It takes years of persistence and hard work, and these graduates have given the department a great deal along the way — through their research and teaching, and through the small daily contributions that shape a community. Their accomplishments belong both to them and to those who supported them.

As they step into new opportunities and careers, we celebrate all they have achieved and look forward to the paths they will forge.

Blake Allan – Advisor: Fritz Gesztesy

Dissertation: “A Comprehensive Computation of m-Functions for Perturbed Bessel Half-Line Schrödinger Operators”

Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Ps. 37:3–4

"These words of David's come to mind as my time at Baylor draws to a close — the surprise of this passage is that we often don't get the object of our heart's desires but receive renewed desires instead.

I came to Baylor for a 4-year technical degree in engineering, and I'm leaving a decade later to launch an intellectual career in mathematics (thanks to the inspiration of Conni Liaw and Will Brian). I thought I would leave to teach with my Master's, but I discovered a depth of inquiry that takes a Ph.D. to participate in (thanks to Fritz Gesztesy offering me a place as a mathematician). Despite my initial standoff-ish-ness, I was drawn into a community of friendship by remarkably supportive colleagues (who are too numerous for this humble parenthetical).

The Baylor experience I would have chosen might have helped me make a little more of a living, but the one I did have helped me live with myself, my family, and my community in ways I couldn't have imagined. Wherever you may find yourself, I hope you'll choose delight and faithfulness — the change you'll find is worth it!"

Drew Anderson – Advisor: Rob Kirby

Dissertation: “On Finite Element Solutions for Bounded Time-Harmonic Scattering Problems with an Exact Nonlocal Boundary Condition".

"Being a PhD student at Baylor University has taught me a lot about myself. I have been challenged to think differently through my classes and mentored through difficult research projects, discovering a lifelong love for teaching in the process. I have been supported daily by the professors and other graduate students, some leading to various outings to both professors' and students' houses. This family has been with me through the pandemic, my wedding, writing a dissertation, and planning for the future. Now, as I venture into the world, I know that this family will remain, both for me if I ever need it and for future graduate students coming into Baylor. This is a place I have been thankful to call home for the last six years, and I know that all students coming into this department will continue to be welcomed and supported in their academic journeys."

Hayden Henson – Advisor: Ron Morgan

Dissertation: "Polynomial Preconditioned GMRES for Indefinite Matrices”

"I am happy to have had this opportunity at Baylor University. The last six years have been a blast, and I have formed friendships that will last a lifetime. It has been a pleasure getting to know and spend time with the faculty, staff, postdoctoral scholars, and my fellow graduate students.

Baylor has provided me with many valuable opportunities, including research, travel, and teaching experiences, as well as the chance to serve the community as President of the AMS Graduate Student Chapter and Secretary of the AWM Student Chapter.

I will always look back fondly on my time in Waco. While it is bittersweet to move on, time does not stand still. I am ready for the next chapter of my life, and I am confident that the Department of Mathematics at Baylor has thoroughly prepared me for what lies ahead."

Ellie Matter – Advisor: Jameson Graber

Dissertation: "Developments in Mean Field Game Theory: Fractional Mean Field Games of Controls and Cluster Formation"

"Each time I walk up the stairs of Sid Rich to my office, I become increasingly aware that my days of being a student in this department are coming to an end. These halls are filled with so many memories: the hours spent studying in the grad lounge, the excitement of having papers published and preparing for conferences, and even watching my son spend much of his first year of life here. What has been most impactful for me about this experience has been the faculty, staff, and students who have encouraged me and celebrated with me each step of the way. The Baylor math department has been a place for me to grow both professionally and personally. Without a doubt, I will miss this place, but I am looking forward to what is next. Sic 'Em Bears!"

Rafael Morales – Advisor: Andrei Martinez-Finkelshtein

Dissertation: “Free Probability Tools in the Study of Zero of Polynomials: Application to Hypergeometric and q-Hypergeometric Families”

"These years have been a time of growth, challenge, and discovery. Beyond the academic training, I am deeply grateful for the community, mentorship, and friendships that made this journey so meaningful. The experience has shaped not only my research, but also the way I approach problems and collaboration. I look forward with excitement to the next stage of my career and to continuing to learn and contribute."

Blanca Radillo-Murguia – Advisor: Paul Hagelstein

Dissertation: “On The Boundedness of Directional Maximal Operators”

"Simply and sincerely, thank you! Muchas gracias! I could not have chosen a better place for my doctoral education. I will always be deeply grateful to Dr. Paul Hagelstein for his guidance, for the many opportunities he provided, for the travel, sorry I mean, conference recommendations, and for his constant support.

I am also thankful to my friends for sharing a commitment to building community, especially through our collaborative efforts in creating the Graduate Student Seminar. To the new students: please keep these spaces alive.

I leave Baylor and Texas with bittersweet feelings (and a nice pair of boots). You are welcome to visit me in Canada."

Pedro Takemura – Advisor: Marius Mitrea

Dissertation: “Boundary Problems in Rough Domains, Calderón-Zygmund Theory, and Herz-type Spaces”

"It's hard to believe it has been five years since I joined Baylor as a graduate student. Looking back, I couldn't have made a better choice. Being part of the Baylor community has played a crucial role in my personal and professional development, and there are not enough words to express how thankful I am for the Mathematics Department. I am especially grateful to my advisor, Professor Marius Mitrea, whose support, encouragement, and guidance pushed me to achieve more than I thought possible. I am thankful for the friends I made along the way and for all those I have crossed paths with. I will miss Baylor."