What do a politician, and a mathematician have in common? They both aim to solve the world’s problems. This is exactly what University of New Mexico alumnus Gerald “Jerry” McNerney represents. As a former congressman with a Ph.D. in mathematics, McNerney came out of retirement to win the 2024 election for California State Senate.
McNerney earned a Ph.D. in mathematics from The University of New Mexico in 1981, under the direction of the late Emeritus Professor and former Department Chair Alexander Stone. An Albuquerque native, McNerney is an American businessman, politician, and former U.S. representative for California's 9th Congressional District.
McNerney first entered onto The University of New Mexico's campus in the early 1970s, earning a Bachelor of Science in mathematics in 1973. He went on to earn a master's degree in 1975 and ultimately pursued a Ph.D., graduating in 1981.
After graduating from UNM, McNerney worked as a contractor in wind engineering at Sandia Labs and U.S. Windpower, served as a consultant to various energy clients, and was CEO of a startup wind-turbine company. He is also the co-author of "Clean Energy Nation" (Amacom, 2011), which covers the history and future of fossil fuels in the U.S.
“I was really more interested in going into the industry and making a physical difference in the world,” explained McNerney.
While McNerney always had a passion for the industry and a desire to make change, it was his son who encouraged him to pursue politics.
“My son, who joined the service after 9/11, called me and said, ‘Hey, Dad, I just got my absentee ballot in the mail. There’s no one running against the incumbent. People need to have a choice. I want you to run for Congress,’” McNerney said. “Of course, I laughed and said, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me!’”
His son’s persistence led McNerney to step into the political arena. He ran in 2004 and lost the election but said he learned a lot from the experience. He ran again in 2006 and won.
“I was a pretty good candidate after that, and I prevailed in a Republican district with about a seven-point victory. We fought pretty hard, and we won that election,” McNerney said.
After arriving in Congress, McNerney was able to use his mathematical background to help make a difference on certain issues.
“I was able to use math to understand all the technology issues on the science committee and on the energy committee. There's a lot of issues that came up that I had real understanding and expertise on that not too many of my colleagues did,” explained McNerney.
One of McNerney’s biggest learning curves was gaining the skills to speak in public and become a public figure. “As a mathematician, you go into a room and work with a pencil and paper, but that’s a lot different than being in public office. I had a lot of experience practicing and learning from past mistakes. It was a tough transition, but has led to a very rewarding career,” he said.
McNerney, who served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2007 to January 2023, was the only member of Congress during that time with a Ph.D. in mathematics, and just the second in history.
After serving 16 years in Congress, McNerney was ready for retirement and left in January 2023. However, his retirement didn’t last long.
“The new Senate district was drawn in 2022, and it was really appealing. Then, when the candidate running stepped down, I was encouraged to run again, and I just couldn’t say no,” McNerney said.
McNerney has fond memories of being on campus at UNM. He met his future wife, remembers playing frisbee on the quad, and is grateful for the education he received. “It was a great experience,” he noted.
He was the 2014 recipient of the James F. Zimmerman Award and continues to be an excellent example of alumni success.
Senator McNerney encourages current UNM students to pursue what they love and find their passion in the workforce. “Do what you love and get good at it, and then you’ll find your way,” he said.
When asked what drew McNerney to mathematics, he responded that he was always good at it and loved doing it. He remembers studying books in the library and finding the subject matter engaging.
“It has a beauty to it in the sense that it takes a lot of work, and when you’re done with it, it’s right, and you know it’s right. Whereas in philosophy, which I also love, you’re never really sure about what you’re saying, and in physics, all the laws of physics get overturned eventually. But the Pythagorean theorem is the Pythagorean theorem, forever,” he stated.
McNerney recalls on how people doubted his decision to major in mathematics, as many didn’t see how it could be applied in the real world. He concluded, “Math is a training ground for a lot of different things. You can become a Wall Street quant analyst or a professor. There are a lot of things you can do with math that weren’t so obvious back when I was in graduate school.”
From mathematics to politics, McNerney’s career has been marked by success and a goal to impact the world for the better. He has begun his term as California’s State Senator for Senate District 5, focusing on water issues, building a stronger, greener economy, and tackling California’s affordability crisis.
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