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: October 30 – November 1, 2014
LOCATION: Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA
Interested juniors/seniors and faculty should contact the NAM National Office for more information at www.nam-math.org.
Organizers:
Nathaniel Dean, National Association of Mathematicicans (NAM)
Dawn Lott, National Association of Mathematicicans (NAM)
Leon Woodson, National Association of Mathematicicans (NAM)
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.
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.
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