Two programs increase diversity in Math Department

Douglas Mupasiri, associate professor of mathematics, and AGEP students (l. to r.) Ken Smith, Jasmine Harris, Frederic Douglas and Erica Naves. Not pictured are Erica Dawson, Tiffany Poche and Mickell Bruce.

Two programs, both funded by the National Science Foundation and the State Board of Regents, are increasing diversity in the Mathematics Department: the Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP) at the graduate level and the Alliance for the Production of African American Ph.D.s in the Mathematical Sciences at the undergraduate level. All three Regents universities are participating in both programs. The project director is Phil Kutzko of the University of Iowa.

The goal of AGEP, according to Jerry Ridenhour, head of the Mathematics Department, is to increase the number of Ph.D.s awarded to underrepresented U.S. minorities in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) areas. AGEP provides opportunities for graduate study as well as the chance to participate in summer programs at the three Regents universities. The students are provided with mentors and opportunities to get to know the University community. There are currently six graduate students in the AGEP program at UNI.

The Alliance program brings undergraduates from historically black colleges and universities to Iowa to study mathematics in summer programs provided by the Regents institutions. Mentors from the Regents schools visit the participating colleges and universities during the year, and the students select one of the Regents universities to visit for an 8-week summer session. UNI will participate in the program for the first time in the summer of 2006, when six students will come to the campus to study differential equations. Similarly, program participants study linear algebra at the University of Iowa or work on undergraduate research at Iowa State.

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Last modified: 1/27/06