OXFORD, Miss.
The University of Mississippi will become the first American college or university to graduate four African-American students with doctorates in mathematics at one commencement this weekend.
“Producing four African-American graduates with doctorates in mathematics is unprecedented, with only the University of Maryland coming close, in 2000” with three, says Dr. Don Cole, associate professor of mathematics and assistant to the chancellor for multicultural affairs. “This event puts us on par with institutions such as Berkeley and Michigan.”
The history-making candidates set to receive their degrees Saturday are Joe Anderson of Rosedale, Miss., Carla Cotwright of Los Angeles, Brian Williams of Missouri City, Texas, and Adrian Wilson of Jackson, Miss.
Dr. Tristan Denley, chair of the Department of Mathematics, termed the graduation of all four students as a “happy coincidence” and said the students were powerful role models to other minority students.
“A lot of graduates have stayed in the state and have clearly made an impact,” he says. “Given the geography and history of the state, there is a lot more to be done since we need people trained in the STEM disciplines.”
According to the Annual Survey of Mathematical Sciences conducted by the American Mathematical Society, only 35 African-Americans earned doctorate degrees in mathematics in 2005. In comparison, 48 Hispanic/Latinos, 384 Asian and 634 White students earned their math doctorate degrees.
