CCICADA Education Project: NAM MATHFest Educational Program for Minority Students

The National Association of Mathematicians (NAM) is a non-profit professional organization that aims to promote excellence in the mathematical sciences, encourages the mathematical development of underrepresented American minorities, and addresses the serious-representation of minorities in the mathematical sciences workforce. NAM achieves its goals by focusing on five areas:

• Mathematics Education
• Professional/Career Development
• Scholarly Productivity
• Student Development
• Databases

Project Leader:

Midge Cozzens, Rutgers University

Project Participants:

Fred Roberts, Rutgers University
Asamoah Nkwanta, Morgan State University
Abdul-Aziz Yakubu Howard University

Although the majority of NAM members belong to under-represented groups of American minorities, a significant number of members represent a cross-section of the mathematical sciences community. Membership is open to all. NAM’s Mathfest is held annually in the Fall and features a series of speakers, panels, and educational sessions aimed at undergraduate and graduate students and faculty nationwide, with an emphasis on MSI institutions. Students give presentations on their research and receive guidance on careers in the mathematical sciences, applying to graduate schools, and surviving graduate school. This project is to help design the program for NAM Mathfest, give it a homeland security emphasis, and assist with presentations.

Accomplishments to Date:

We worked with the chair of Mathfest, Professor Leon Woodson, to design the November 12-14, 2009 meeting held at the University of the District of Columbia. We arranged for the Director of CCICADA, Fred Roberts, and the CCICADA DHS Program Manager, Joe Kielman, to give major presentations. Former REU students at our predecessor DHS Center, DyDAn, were also lined up to participate as role models who have gone on to graduate school. Here are the details of the program:

NAM MATHFest Educational Program for Minority Students
DATE: November 12-14, 2009
LOCATION: The University of the District of Columbia

Organizers:

Nathaniel Dean, National Association of Mathematicicans (NAM)
Dawn Lott, National Association of Mathematicicans (NAM)
Leon Woodson, National Association of Mathematicicans (NAM)

Work to be done in Rest of Year 1: We have already begun to plan CCICADA engagement with NAM MATHFest 2010. This work will continue until the end of Year 1.

Interfaces with Research Tasks/Projects at CCICADA: As we continue to work with NAM, we will seek to include CCICADA speakers from a variety of CCICADA projects.

Connection to work at COEs and VACCINE: We had planned to involve VACCINE and NAM MATHFest, but VACCINE did not have the funds to participate this year. We hope they will in Year 2.

Homeland Security Motivation: NAM MATHFest is directly in line with the DHS goals of preparing the homeland security workforce of the future.

Connection with Homeland Security Practitioners: Among the speakers we are hoping to engage in NAM MATHFest in the future are homeland security practitioners who make use of mathematical science tools. They would make wonderful role models for the students attending MATHFest.

Proposed Work in Year 2: We will support NAM MATHFest in 2010 in the same way we supported NAM MATHFest in 2009. However, Funds will be limited unless we receive a second installment of Year 2 funding.