Costa Papanicolaou began his professional life in the field of aviation, earning both his commercial, multiengine pilot license and flight instuctor certificates (CFII, MEI) by the age of 20.  Working first as an instructor and later transitioning to cororate aviation, he worked throughout the contiguous United States.  In 1999 he enrolled at the University of Houston where he completed his B.A. in mathematics in three years.  Immediately after graduation, he was admitted to the graduate school of mathematics at the University of Houston with a focus on contemporary algebra and number theory.  During his tenure at the graduate school, he completed and published his first full-length text, Algebra with Trigonometry; A Guided Tour for the College Bound Student.

 

In 2006 he founded The Center for Academic Support in Houston, where he and his staff provide private instruction, custom curricula, and test preparation for students and organizations in the disciplines of mathematics, physics and the natural sciences.

 

Active in his community, he served for four years, three of which as an officer, on the board of directors at the Assumption of The Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church, and currently serves as vice-president on the board of directors of his community association, The Court at Museum's Gate.