Tommy Schupp '25 didn't set out to become a math influencer. He simply fell in love with mathematics at American University—and somewhere between two math tattoos, an AU Abroad experience at the University of Oxford, and graduate study in Germany, nearly 50,000 people fell in love with it, too. 

"At AU, I just completely dove into math," Schupp says. "It became my whole life." 

Professors Joshua Lansky and Mike Limarzi encouraged that passion, offering Schupp advanced study, summer research opportunities, and AU's Not Math Club, where students from every discipline gather to share their love of mathematics. 

"The connection that you are able to make with professors is the most unique and special part of the AU experience," Schupp says. "I keep in touch with both of them regularly." 

By the time Schupp applied to study abroad, he had completed nearly every mathematics course available at AU. Oxford offered the opportunity to keep pushing himself. Through AU Abroad, he spent eight months studying mathematics in England taking advanced courses he "never dreamed" he'd have the chance to explore. 

The experience reshaped Schupp's academic path. It also launched his TikTok and Instagram accounts, where he shares his enthusiasm for mathematics with students and math lovers around the world. 

New Challenges, Expanded Possibilities 

Like many first-time visitors, Schupp was captivated by Oxford's beauty and centuries of history. "So many great minds studied there over centuries," he says. 

But what left the greatest impression on him wasn't Oxford's architecture or traditions—it was the opportunity to immerse himself in advanced mathematics. "The math that they offered there was really amazing," he says. "I had the opportunity to take really, really challenging classes." 

Those courses expanded his view of what was possible as a mathematician and gave him the confidence to pursue graduate study. 

His enthusiasm for mathematics also caught the attention of Oxford's communications team. When the mathematics department invited students to participate in a social media campaign celebrating their love of math, Schupp knew exactly how to introduce himself. 

“I said, 'Hi, my name is Tommy. I'm a visiting student here, and I have math tattoos.'" 

One tattoo features the logo of AU's Not Math Club, which Schupp and several friends got while they were students at American University. The other celebrates his favorite number, 57—a reference to legendary mathematician Alexander Grothendieck, who once famously used 57 as an example of a prime number during a lecture. The mistake (57 is not prime) became a reminder that even brilliant mathematicians aren't perfect. 

"The moral of the story," Schupp says, "is that everybody makes mistakes." 

When Math Goes Viral 

Oxford featured Schupp on its social media channels, inspiring him to create his own mathematics content on TikTok (@tommy_math) and Instagram (@tommyschuppmath). 

Today, nearly 50,000 people follow his videos, where he explains advanced mathematical concepts—from algebraic groups to Cartesian products in topology—in ways that make them more approachable for students. 

At the same time, Schupp is completing the first year of a master's program in mathematics at the University of Bonn in Germany, home to one of the world's leading mathematics departments, with plans to continue toward a PhD. 

Looking back, however, he says the most valuable lesson from Oxford wasn't academic. 

"I really got the chance to be very independent when I studied abroad," he says. "It was very scary to be at this university where I didn't know people and where I was put out of my comfort zone, but I found that to be actually the most rewarding part of the experience." 

This confidence, nurtured by AU mentors and strengthened during his time at Oxford, is something that Schupp will carry with him as he continues his mathematical journey.