What? Hi, Alia!

Watched this before work and got a kick out of them showing her on Jezebel. What a cool lady, working in NOLA and all. If she didn't before, hope she starts posting!

Pet peeve: Child prodigy is redundant.

On topic- I wonder if she were teaching at a more stable, "normal" college if she could be taken seriously. Also, are there maturity issues involved with having a "kid" teaching college?

I'm not doubting her at all- I admire the shiz out of here. I'm just sort of pondering this...

Hello Alia!
thats pretty cool that she's teaching there because thats the way that it made the most sense to teach.

@TurangaLeela: I'm sure people take this into consideration when they hire someone. You can be an immature asshole at 40, too.

I thought nerds were good at fixing up houses. The Tri Lams did it at least twice.

@ineffable.me: ack, "thats the way it made the most sense to help"

I actually saw this and I never, ever watch Today but NBC was still on this morning from last night's SVU. I was deligted to see that she is a Jez fan. I wonder if she's a commenter?

@TurangaLeela: I'm sure at first there is some trepidation with having a young professor. I have had some really young, atleast young looking, professors. But honestly once they show they are really knowledgeable about there area then I think it morphs into any student/teacher relationship. It might even be better b/c she is exactly the same age as most of her students so they can relate to her better and are less afraid of asking questions etc.

Go Alia!

Rock on! Now there's a true role model for today's young ladies!

@TurangaLeela: I taught my first college class when I was 20 (I was a grad assistant, not a professor, but I had my own class). I was scared out of my mind, but it went ok. I'm sure she'll have guidance from the more experienced faculty members.

hooray for girls who are good at math! ( i am not a member of this group)

Hi, Alia! You're the shit!

You should come here and talk to Scoregasm about math.

Clarinetists own!!

@TurangaLeela: Heavens, I had teaching assistants during freshman year that were not much older than she is. From the looks of the video, she's poised, mature and in command of her material. Good for her!

@TurangaLeela: what is a "normal" college and why isn't Southern University one? Because of Katrina or because of other reasons?

Hi, Alia!

Hooray Alia!

@TurangaLeela: I also wonder if sometimes, just because you CAN do something, if it means you should. You know? I mean, I really hope she has the time to do "normal" 18 year old things. Mainly, gaining that social maturation you don't get from academics.

Either way, she seems totally normal, and sweet, and more power to her.

Also, I think she was originally teaching in at a Univ. in South Korea, or she's going to be teaching there? I don't think NOLA is permanent.

Wow, way to go, Alia. It took me a while to figure out how to present myself as an authority (who also had a personality) when I was 2-6 years older than my students-- I can't imagine being their age. Well done!

hat tip, alia. i'll be toasting you after the sun's over the yardarm.

argh math! math makes my brain melt but go alia!

@TurangaLeela: I think the maturity/respect issue can be handled by how she conducts herself in the classroom and on the campus. I think the issue occurs not just with young teachers, but also young-looking teachers. If she sets the tone, I think any maturity issues are lessened/alleviated.

Hi, Alia. I'm not doing anything with my life, so I'm glad you're out there doing everything and picking up the slack.

@TurangaLeela: If she "could" be taken seriously?

It seems that she is being taken seriously as it is.

Awesome woman, great role model.

You know what would be awesome? A book on math/physics for girls cowritten by her and Danica McKellar.

@TurangaLeela: don't mock or make fun of SUNO.

Seriously, what a bad ass. It's good to see her so well put together and humble.

There was a kid like that, a 'prodigy,' who grew up in the same area as myself, was featured in newspapers and the like. Just by chance, we happened to be in the same room for SAT II testing a few years ago, and in what I'm sure was a moment of hubris, he ignored one of the critical instructions for the exam. When he realized several minutes in, he quite openly threw a fit and demanded that he be able to start the exam again. Nothing gave me greater pleasure than to see him embarrassed and summarily dismissed from the classroom as everyone quietly snickered, but I'm even happier to see someone who is talented and conscientious (as Alia obviously is) succeed.

@brendastarlet: @layladylan: @AnderBobo: Exactly. I need to refresh pre-post.

Hi Alia!! You are a total badass and my new hero!

I wish I'd had her poise at 18.

Ok, I wish I had her poise now, at 25. Dammit, I hate when younger people are way moer successful than I am, it makes me feel so lazy!

Heeey Alia! Are you still in the city? Hit me up, I'm taking you out to lunch.

Further proof that Jezebels are the coolest.

This girl is awesome.

@Jerseylicious: And Alia probably wouldn't have let that "more" typo slip by her either.

Absolutely amazing. It really doesn't matter how old a professor is; it's about her ability to teach students and make a difference. I salute you, Alia.

Good lord, I get enough passive-aggressive bullshit from students because I'm young and female, but am damn grateful I can (legally) drink those sorrows away.

Hi, Alia! "Somebody had to do it, why not me?" is going up on a Post-It above my computer when I get home. You rock.

The only bad part about this story is that they referred to Jezebel as a celebrity gossip site.

@layladylan: Awesome! Go you!

Reading at 8 months?! Damn, most babies can't even eat a banana at 8 months. Amazing. Woman. Amazing.

She's awesome. As far as the age and teaching, there are so many people who are older and teach that look younger, and vice versa. There's so much that simply relates to your being able to do things that give you command of your classroom and respect from students that have nothing to do with how old you look.

@blackbirdfly: Yes, she posts under "Diablo_Cody".

@southernbitch: Eep! I wasn't- I'm sorry if it came off that way. I was referring to the fact that it is still recovering from Katrina. I assumed that they were very eager for new teachers, etc so they would be more likely to take a risk on a young professor.

Again, apologies.

@TurangaLeela: Thanks! I love your screen name, by the way. I once dressed up as Leela for Halloween (my husband was Zapp Branigan). My dog was Nibbler. I am not kidding.

Mathy chicks rock!

Here's what my inquiring mind wants to know - is Ann Curry as annoying in person as she is on TV? ooof, she works my nerves.

Okay, after watching that...doctoral degree in 2 years? I do have to think that a lot of people in these situations have been given extraordinary opportunities as well as being good at things. Most children aren't given the chance to skip through early grade school studies, and most doctoral programs have requirements of length of time for certain parts of the program. It just wouldn't be possible to finish in that length of time, no matter how good you were.

Alia, you are awesome...welcome to the fold.

@layladylan: Thanks- great costume idea. :) She's my hero pretty much. Even if she's a cartoon.

Yeah girl! You rock!

Way to put pressure on her Ann - "I want you to find the cure for cancer"
I never gave much thought to the age of my professors, as long as I could understand what they were trying to teach me, they could be 15 for all I cared.

Alia! You rock! Way to represent the young female population!

Okay, let me add to the chorus of "go get 'em, girl!"

I feel like my initial comment came off curmudgeonly and that wasn't what I wanted!

What a betty.

@washionfore: Ann is so painful to watch/listen to.

what a betty, indeed.

Wait. What sort of research does she do? Why did Ann tell her to cure cancer? Is that just what smart people do?

She is pretty awesome though.

whatever, i totally could have been a college professor when i was 18. unfortunately, there were no colleges in my area offered "underage alcohol procurement studies" programs.

I love, love, love that she loves math and science and wants more people to love them too.

I am terrible at them, but she rocks.

Hi Alia! We've got your back.