For Amelia Burton, it’s all about inspiring the next generation of mathematicians and computer scientists. She splits her time between Waterloo and 16 countries across North America, Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and the Middle East.
As the Undergraduate Recruitment & Admissions Officer in the Faculty of Mathematics, Burton recruits talent from around the globe to share in the innovative spirit of Waterloo.
Alongside faculty members from the Centre for Education in Mathematics & Computing (CEMC), Burton provides outreach to students in grades 9 to 12. She introduces students to Waterloo’s approach to learning and problem solving by presenting unique math workshops which build on the school’s existing curriculum.
“It’s unique to see how a student works through different scenarios and the diversity that shines through in each approach,” said Burton who is a Waterloo alumnus herself and staff member since 2009. 
International recruitment is a core focus for the Faculty of Mathematics at Waterloo, as it brings diversity to the classroom and helps to attract top math and computer science talent from around the world.
“Recruitment provides diversity to the incoming class,” said Burton. “It reminds us to celebrate our shared differences and how it adds to our learning, both in and out of the classroom.”
Burton’s most recent trip took her to India where she visited schools in five different cities and met with a diverse group of students, teachers and guidance counsellors. Burton helps guide students interested in attending Waterloo through the application process by meeting and communicating with the interested applicant and family members. For her, the best part comes when she sees students on campus enjoying their experience as they begin their studies in Waterloo Mathematics. Burton has fond memories of watching a student from Madagascar experience snow for the first time in Waterloo. The opportunity to share her passion for mathematics with a class of dedicated students from around the world is what makes Burton’s job so worthwhile for her.
“The reason I do this job is to see the joy and excitement in a student’s face after stepping on campus for the first time” says Burton. “It’s 90% nerves, but also joy at the new opportunities they’re about to embark on. This makes my job worth it every day.”
If you are interested in learning more about international outreach workshops, contact Amelia Burton at aburton@uwaterloo.ca or for workshops within Canada visit https://cemc.uwaterloo.ca/visits.html.
