Today we feature a thoughtful conversation with Cindy Wyels, Professor of Mathematics at California State Channel Islands and Secretary of the Mathematical Association of America. Cindy grew up in southern California with a small interlude in Australia, she attended Pomona College where she was a student-athlete majoring in math and she earned her PhD at the University of California Santa Barbara. She cares deeply about providing access to a quality education and has co-authored two 5-year, $6m Hispanic-Serving Institution STEM grants to provide academic support for undergraduates studying STEM and pedagogical renewal for faculty. This conversation highlights the importance of saying “yes” to what is most meaningful, of amplifying the voices of students and colleagues, of building intentional networks, and of making exercise, especially in the ocean, a part of every day.