Recently President Obama named nine academics as recipients of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring. Winners will receive their awards at a White House ceremony later this year. In addition, each winner receives a $25,000 grant from the National Science Foundation which can be used to aid their mentoring activities.
Three of the nine individuals honored are African Americans.
Juan E. Gilbert is professor and chair of the Human-Centered Computing Division of the College of Engineering and Science at Clemson University in South Carolina. Dr. Gilbert is a graduate of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. He holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Cincinnati.
Solomon Bililign is a professor of physics at North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia. He earned a Ph.D. in atomic, molecular, and laser physics from the University of Iowa.
Winston Anderson is a professor of biology at Howard University. He holds a bachelor’s degree in zoology from Howard University and a Ph.D. in biology from Brown University.
Wonderful. Congratulations Drs. Gilbert, Billign, and Anderson. Educators who win this award are thoroughly veted and are by, no means, academic slouches.
These professors are and have been “paying it forward,” the reason for this recognition. GREAT!! These examples should be shared with as many students as possible at TWIs, HBCUs, HSIs, and tribal colleges.