Shaping Victory: The Multifaceted Contributions of Tony Asdourian

This article examines the contributions of Tony Asdourian, particularly his work at Park School, focusing on his multifaceted roles as a mathematics teacher, Mock Trial coach, and textbook author. It also touches upon the application of analytical thinking in diverse fields, exemplified by a Park alumnus's role as a football analyst for the Baltimore Ravens.

Tony Asdourian: A Champion of Mathematics and Mock Trial

Tony Asdourian's career is a testament to his dedication to education and his ability to inspire students in diverse fields. Holding a B.A. in Physics from Oberlin College, Tony teaches mathematics in Upper School. His influence extends beyond the classroom as the faculty advisor to Mock Trial.

Mock Trial Success

As the faculty advisor to Mock Trial, he has helped to coach the team to victories at the State and National levels. This demonstrates his leadership and ability to guide students to excellence in extracurricular activities.

A Diverse Teaching Background

Tony has taught mathematics, physics, and humanities at four different schools: Isidore Newman School in New Orleans, La.; Escola Graduada De Sao Paulo in Sao Paulo, Brazil; Poly Prep Country Day School in Brooklyn, N.Y.; and Park. This varied experience reflects his adaptability and broad knowledge base. He has chaired the mathematics departments at previous schools, and led the five-year effort of Park’s Upper School mathematics department to write its own series of textbooks that are still in use.

Curriculum Innovation

With two other members of Park’s mathematics department, Tony co-wrote “Geometry in Medias Res” in The Mathematics Teacher, February 2012. This publication highlights his commitment to innovative teaching methods and curriculum development.

Read also: Progressive Education at Oberlin

Analytical Thinking Beyond the Classroom: Daniel Stern's NFL Role

The skills honed in academic settings, such as Oberlin College and Yale, can translate to success in unexpected fields. Park alumnus Daniel Stern ’12 exemplifies this, bringing analytical thinking to the world of professional football.

From Behavioral Economics to Football Analytics

As a football analyst for the Baltimore Ravens, Stern talks head coach John Harbaugh through strategies and statistics during each game. Stern, a behavioral economics major at Yale, is in his fourth season with the Ravens. His role involves running numbers and probabilities to inform critical in-game decisions. It’s fourth-and-two - does the offense go for it or bring on the kicking team? That’s what Stern is tasked with figuring out. Stern was recently interviewed for an article in The Athletic about Harbaugh’s use of probabilities and analytics to give the team an edge.

Communicating with the Coach

Stern sat with [Matt] Weiss [current Ravens running backs coach] in previous years and watched him communicate with Harbaugh during games. He noticed that Weiss didn’t mince words and was direct. What makes it easier, according to Stern, is that Harbaugh is familiar with concepts like win probability and expected points added (EPA). “We talk about all the different scenarios, and he basically gives me a percentage,” says Harbaugh. “So what’s the added win percentage of going for it? He’ll give it to me like one, two, three, four, five, six, up to whatever. Then you just decide if you want to do it. It’s not strictly based (on the numbers). I listen to it. If he starts telling me 3 and 4 percent, I get really interested. If it’s 1 or 2 percent, I’m still interested - especially if it’s short, if I think we can get it.” Says Stern, “I just remind him during the game that this is what we were planning to do. If something’s changed, then he’ll argue back. You’ve just gotta be ready for him to push back, like, ‘You really think we should?’ Or ‘I don’t want to do that.’ I don’t take offense to that during a game at all.

Faculty Recognition: Kenya Boston's Lacrosse Achievement

The accomplishments of Park School students extend to athletics as well. Congratulations to Park School alumna Kenya Boston ’18 on being named to the US Lacrosse 2018 Girls’ High School All-Academic Team!

Appendix: Selected Faculty List

The following is a partial list of faculty members, showcasing the diverse expertise within the academic community.

Read also: Yeomen Gridiron Glory

ABBEY, ANTONIA: Ph.D., M.A., Northwestern University; B.A., University of Michigan; Professor, Psychology
ABEL, ERNEST L.: Ph.D., M.A., B.A., University of Toronto; Professor Emeritus, Psychology, Obstetrics and Gynecology
ABRAMOWICZ, SARAH: J.D., Ph.D., Columbia University; B.A., Stanford University; Associate Professor, Law
ABRAMS, GARY: M.D., University of Oklahoma; Professor, Ophthalmology
ABRAMSON, HANLEY N.: Ph.D., University of Michigan; B.S., Wayne State University; Professor Emeritus, Pharmaceutical Sciences
ABREGO, TIFFANY: Ph.D., M.S., Eastern Michigan University; BA University of California, Riverside; Associate Professor - Clinical , Psychology
ABT, JEFFREY: M.F.A., B.F.A., Drake University; Professor Emeritus, Art
ACIERTO, ALEJANDRO: M.F.A., University of Illinois Chicago; M.M., Manhattan School of Music; B.M., DePaul University; Assistant Professor, Art
ACKERMAN, ROBERT M.: J.D., Harvard University; B.A., Colgate University; Professor Emeritus, Law
ACKERMAN, SHARON H.: Ph.D., M.S., New York University; B.S., George Washington University; Associate Professor, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
ADAMO, DIANE: Ph.D., University of Michigan; M.S., B.S., Wayne State University; Associate Professor, Physical Therapy
ADDEPALI, ARADHANA: M.B.B.S., Osmania Medical College; Assistant Professor (Clinician-Educator), Internal Medicine
ADDONIZIO, MICHAEL F.: Ph.D., M.A., Michigan State University; M.P.P., University of Michigan; B.A., College of the Holy Cross; Professor, Education, Administrative & Organizational Studies
ADELMAN, MARTIN J.: J.D., M.S., B.A., University of Michigan; Professor Emeritus, Law
ADHIKARI, AKRISH: Ph.D., M.A., Princeton University; B.A., Reed College; Instructor, French
AFONSO, LUIS: M.B.B.S., Goa Medical College; Professor (Clinician-Educator), Internal Medicine
AGBAGLAH, G. GILOU: Ph.D., M.S., Universite Pierre et Marie Curie; M.S., B.S., Universite de Lome; Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering
AGUIN, TINA: M.D., Wayne State University; B.S., Lake Superior State University; Assistant Professor (Clinician-Educator), Obstetrics and Gynecology
AHMED, ZULFIQAR: M.D., Sindh Medical College; Clinical Assistant Professor, Anesthesiology
AIR, ELLEN: M.D., Ph.D., University of Cincinnati; B.A., Northwestern University; Clinical Instructor, Neurosurgery
AJLUNI, VICTOR: M.D., B.S., Wayne State University; Assistant Professor (Clinician-Educator), Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences
AKINS, ROBERT A.: Ph.D., Ohio State University; B.A., Wittenberg University; Professor, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
AL-HOLOU, WAJD: M.D., University of Michigan; Assistant Professor, Neurological Surgery
AL-KATIB, AYAD: M.D., Mosul Medical College; Professor Emeritus, Internal Medicine
AL-SHARKAWI, MOHAMED T.: Ph.D., Radboud University; M.A., The American University in Cairo; Associate Professor, Arabic
ALBAUGH, ALEX: Ph.D., University of California-Berkeley; B.S.E, University of Michigan; Assistant Professor, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science
ALBDOUR, MAHA: Ph.D., M.S.N., Wayne State University; B.S.N., University of Jordan; Associate Professor, Nursing
ALBDOUR, MAHA: Ph.D., M.S.N., Wayne State University; B.S.N., University of Jordan; Associate Professor, Ph.D. Program Director, Nursing
ALCEDO, JOY A.: Ph.D., University of Zurich; M.S., Dartmouth University; B.A., College of Saint Rose; Associate Professor, Biological Sciences
ALESH, ISSA: M.D., Damascus University; Assistant Professor (Clinician-Educator), Medicine
ALEXANDER, GAYLORD D.: M.D., B.S., Wayne State University; Associate Professor, Anesthesiology
ALEXANDER, LISA DORIS: Ph.D., Bowling Green State University; M.A., University of California-Los Angeles; B.A., Grinnell College; Professor, African American Studies
ALEXANDER, SHELDON: Ph.D., University of Rochester; B.A., City College of New York; Professor Emeritus, Psychology
ALI-FEHMI, ROUBA: M.D., Damascus University; Professor (Clinician-Educator), Pathology
ALLEN, MATTHEW: Ph.D., California Institute of Technology; B.S., Purdue University; Professor and Chair, Chemistry, Professor, Oncology (Cancer Biology)
ALMUBARAK, YARA: Ph.D., M.S., B.S., University of Texas at Dallas; Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering
ALMUFARREJ, FAISAL: M.B.B.Ch., Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland; Associate Professor (Clinician-Educator), Surgery
ALTINOK, DENIZ: M.D., Hacettepe University; Associate Professor (Clinician-Educator), Radiology
ALVAREZ, ANN ROSEGRANT: Ph.D., M.S.W., M.A., University of Michigan; B.A., Antioch College; Associate Professor Emerita, Social Work
ALWARD, ABDO: M.D., Ross University School of Medicine; B.S., Wayne State University; Clinical Assistant Professor, Internal Medicine
AMIRSADRI, ALIREZA: M.D., Tehran University; Assistant Professor (Clinician-Educator), Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences
ANDERSEN, HANNAH: M.F.A., University of Oregon; B.F.A., Western Washington University; Assistant Professor of Teaching, Dance
ANDERSON, GORDON F.: Ph.D., M.S., Wayne State University; B.S., Ferris State University; Professor Emeritus, Pharmacology
ANDERSON, JAMI: J.D., Wayne State University; Ph.D., University of Southern California; B.A., Arizona State University; Assistant Professor (Teaching), Law
ANDERSON, JONATHAN: DM.A., University of North Texas; Mmus, University of North Carolina at Greensboro; B.A., Luther College; Associate Professor, Music
ANDERSON, JUANITA B.: M.A., B.A., University of Michigan; Professor - Teaching, Communication
ANDRADE, RODRIGO: Ph.D., Yale University; Professor, Pharmacology
ANGHELESCU, HERMINA G.B.: Ph.D., MLIS, University of Texas at Austin; M.A., University of Bucharest; Professor, Information Sciences
ANGOA-PEREZ, MARIANA: Ph.D., National Autonomous University of Mexico; Assistant Professor, Physiology
ANSARI, ATHAR: Ph.D., M.Sc., B.Sc., University of Delhi; Associate Professor, Biological Sciences
ANTAKI, FADI: M.D., University of Aleppo; Assistant Professor (Clinician-Educator), Internal Medicine
APEL, DORA: Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh; M.A., Wayne State University; B.A., State University of New York, Binghamton; Professor Emerita, Art History
ARAS, SIDDHESH: Ph.D., Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center; B.S., University of Mumbai; Assistant Professor, Molecular Genetics and Genomics, Assistant Professor, Oncology (Cancer Biology)
ARAVA, LEELA: Ph.D., Indian Institute of Technology Madras; M.S., B.S., Sri Venkateswara University; Professor and Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies, Mechanical Engineering
ARFKEN, CYNTHIA: Ph.D., MPhil, Yale University; B.A., Kalamazoo College; Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences
ARKING, ROBERT: Ph.D., Temple University; B.S., Dickinson College; Professor Emeritus, Biological Sciences
ARONOV, RIMMA: M.D., New York University School of Medicine; B.S., Elmhurst College; Assistant Professor (Clinician-Educator), Radiology
ARRATHOON, RAYMOND: Ph.D., Stanford University; M.S., California Institute of Technology; B.S., Cornell University; Professor Emeritus, Electrical and Computer Engineering
ARSLANTURK, SUZAN: Ph.D., Oakland University; M.S., Oakland University; B.S., Baskent University; Associate Professor, Computer Science, Industrial and Systems Engineering
ARTALEJO, CRISTINA: M.D., Ph.D., Autonoma University; Associate Professor, Pharmacology
ARTHUR, MARC: Ph.D., M.A., New York University; B.A., California College of the Arts; Assistant Professor, Theatre
ARTINIAN, NANCY: Ph.D., M.S.N., Wayne State University; B.S.N., Mercy College of Detroit; Professor Emerita, Nursing, Associate Dean, Office of Health Research
ARTISS, JOSEPH D.: Ph.D., University of Windsor; Associate Professor Emeritus, Pathology
ARYA, POONAM: Ph.D., State University of New York at Buffalo; M.A., M.Ed., B.A., B.Ed., Delhi University; Professor, Education, Teacher Education
ASANO, EISHI: M.D., Ph.D., Tohuku University School of Medicine; Professor, Pediatrics, Neurology
ASDOURIAN, DAVID J.: Ph.D., University of Illinois, B.A., City College of New York; Professor Emeritus, Psychology
ASH, ERIC H.: Ph.D., M.A., Princeton University; B.A., Harvard University; Professor, History
ASHINGER, PHYLLIS A.: M.A., University of Michigan; B.A., Indiana University; Associate Professor Emerita, Art
AUBERT, DANIELLE: M.F.A., Yale University; B.A., University of Virginia; Associate Professor, Art
AULICINO, MICHAEL: M.D., University of Michigan; Clinical Assistant Professor, Pathology
AUNER, GREGORY: Ph.D., M.S., B.S., Wayne State University; Professor (Research Educator), Surgery
AVRUTSKY, IVAN: Ph.D., M.S., B.S., Moscow Physical-Technical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences; Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
AWONUGA, AWONIYI: M.D., University of Ibadan; Associate Professor (Clinician-Educator), Obstetrics and Gynecology
AYOOBI, MOHSEN: Ph.D., Louisiana State; M.Sc.
BABCOCK, ELSIE: M.A.T., B.A., Wayne State University; Associate Professor (Teaching), Education, Teacher Education
BACIEWICZ, FRANK A.: M.D., University of Virginia; B.A., Williams College; Professor (Clinician-Educator), Surgery
BADR, SAFWAN M.: M.D., Damascus University Medical School; Professor, Internal Medicine
BAJJALY, STEPHEN T.: Ph.D., State University of New York at Albany; M.B.A., San Diego State University; B.S., St. Lawrence University; Professor Emeritus, Information Sciences
BAKER, TRACIE: Ph.D., D.V.M., University of Wisconsin; M.S., University of Alaska-Fairbanks; B.S., Cleveland State University; Assistant Professor, Pharmacology, Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
BAKKO, MATTHEW: Ph.D., University of Michigan; M.S.W., Washington University; M.A., Central European University, B.S.W., B.A., Minnesota State University; Assistant Professor, Social Work
BAKOPOULOS, NATALIE: M.F.A., University of Michigan; B.S., Michigan State University; Associate Professor, English
BALEJA, KATHERINE: Ed.D., Central Michigan University; M.A., Saginaw Valley State University; B.A., Alma College; Assistant Professor (Teaching), Education, Teacher Education
BALGAMWALLA, SABRINA: J.D., American University Washington College of Law; B.A., Bryn Mawr College; Assistant Professor, Law
BALINT, KATHERINE: D.N.P., Wayne State University; M.S.N., Madonna University; B.S.N., Nazareth College; Assistant Professor (Clinical), Nursing
BALLENTINE, KESS: Ph.D., M.S.W., University of Pittsburgh; M.A., North Carolina State University; B.S., Pennsylvania State University; Assistant Professor, Social Work
BALON, RICHARD: M.D., Charles University; Professor (Clinician-Educator), Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences
BALTES, BORIS: Ph.D., M.A., Northern Illinois University; M.B.A., University of Wisconsin; Professor, Psychology, Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs
BANDYOPADHYAY, SUDESHNA: M.D., Calcutta National Medical College; Associate Professor (Clinician-Educator), Pathology
BANDYOPADHYAY, SUDESHNA: M.D., Calcutta National Medical College; Clinical Professor, Pathology
BANFILL, KIMBERLY: O.T.D., Chatham University, M.O.T, B.S., Wayne State University; Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy
BANNON, MICHAEL: Ph.D., M.Phil., Yale University; M.S., University of Louisville; B.A., Lewis University; Professor, Pharmacology, Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences
BARAWI, MOHAMMED: M.D., University of Damascus; Clinical Assistant Professor, Internal Medicine
BARCELONA, JEANNE: Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin; M.A.E., Olivet Nazarene University; B.A., Saint Mary's College; Assistant Professor, Education, Kinesiology, Health and Sport Studies
BARGER, GEOFFREY R.: M.D., Jefferson University; B.A., Villanova University; Associate Professor (Clinician-Educator), Neurology
BARNES, BRIAN: Pharm.D., University of Kansas; M.S. University of Kansas Medical Center; Associate Professor, Pharmacy Practice
BARNES, MICHAEL J.: M.F.A., National Theatre Conservatory; B.F.A., University of Oklahoma; Associate Professor, Theatre, Chair, Theatre and Dance
BARNES, SUSAN: D.N.P., M.S.N., Wayne State University; B.S.N., Madonna University; Instructor (Clinical), Nursing
BARNETT, DOUGLAS: Ph.D., M.A., University of Rochester; B.A., Boston University; Professor, Psychology
BARRETTE, CATHERINE M.: Ph.D., M.A., University of Arizona; B.A., Michigan State University; Associate Professor, Spanish
BARTELL, LAURA B.: J.D., Harvard University; B.A., Stanford University; Professor, Law
BARTOI, MARLA: Ph.D., M.A., University of South Florida; B.A., University of Michigan; Associate Professor (Clinical), Psychology
BASHA, MAYSAA: M.D., B.A., Wayne State University; Associate Professor (Clinician-Educator), Neurology
BASKARAN, MARK: Ph.D., Physical Research Laboratory, India; M.S., M.K. University; B.S., V.H.N.S.N. College; Professor and Chair, Environmental Sciences and Geology
BASS, CAMERON: Ph.D., University of Virginia; B.S., University of Virginia; Professor, Biomedical Engineering
BASU, AMAR: Ph.D., M.S.E, B.S., University of Michigan; Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
BATCHU, RAMESH: M.D., India Free Standing University; Associate Professor, Surgery
BATTEAU, ALLEN W.: Ph.D., M.A., University of Chicago; B.A., Bard College; Professor Emeritus, Anthropology (Emeritus Faculty)
BAUER, SAMANTHA: Ph.D., Michigan State University; M.S., Michigan State University ; Assistant Professor - Clinical, Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences
BAYBECK, BRADY P.: Ph.D., M.A., Washington University in St. Louis; B.A., University of Michigan; Associate Professor, Political Science
BAYLOR, ALFRED: M.D., Georgetown University School of Medicine; B.A., Hampton University; Assistant Professor, Surgery
BEALE, LINDA M.: LL.M., New York University; J.D., Ph.D., M.A., Cornell University; B.S., Duke University; Professor, Law
BEAUDOIN, JOAN E.: Ph.D., M.S.L.I.S., Drexel University; M.A., Temple University; B.F.A., Massachusetts College of Art; Associate Professor, Information Sciences
BEAVERS, ALYSSA: Ph.D., Michigan State University; M.S., R.D., Iowa State University; Assistant Professor, Nutrition and Food Science
BEDI, MEL: Ph.D., University of Toledo; Pharm.D., University of Toledo; B.S., University of Toledo; B.S., Indiana State University; Assistant Professor (Research), Pharmaceutical Sciences
BEEBE-DIMMER, JENNIFER L.: Ph.D., M.P.H., University of Michigan; B.A., University of Wisconsin; Professor, Oncology (Cancer Biology)
BEEGHLY, MARJORIE: Ph.D., M.A., University of Colorado, Boulder; B.A., University of California, Santa Cruz; Professor, Psychology
BEHEN, MICHAEL E.: Ph.D., Wayne State University; Assistant Professor (Research), Pediatrics, Neurology
BEKDACHE, BASMA: Ph.D., Boston College; M.A., B.B.A, University of Toledo; Assistant Professor (Teaching), Finance
BELGIANO, NEIL J.: D.O., Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine; B.S., Siena College; Clinical Assistant Professor, Internal Medicine
BELL, BIBA: Ph.D., M.A., New York University; B.A., University of California, Santa Cruz; Assistant Professor, Dance
BELTRAMINI, RICHARD F.: Ph.D., University of T…

tags: #oberlin #college #tony #asdourian