Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina is celebrating a new milestone in student achievement. Among this year’s graduating class, 11 students have committed to pursue advanced degrees in mathematical and statistical sciences – the most in the HBCU’s history.
“This is a big deal for our department and a point of pride for our faculty,” said Felicia Simpson, department chair and professor of mathematics. “We are changing students’ perception of mathematics.”
Of the 11 students, nine are pursuing master’s degrees, one is pursuing a doctorate, and one was accepted into a research training program prior to graduate school. Notably, seven of these graduating seniors received full tuitions scholarships.
One student, Torre Lloyd, was named a NexGen Scholar and accepted into a biostatistics program at Brown University, an Ivy League school in Providence, Rhode Island. Other graduate school destinations for the student cohort include Duke University in Durham and Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem.
Dr. Simpson, who recently received an award for her outstanding student mentorship and early-career accomplishments, added, “It is truly amazing watching these students grow in their abilities to analyze and interpret statistical data and really become confident in themselves. Some of these students never dreamed they would make it to this level. It is an indescribable feeling to see them get accepted into graduate programs in mathematics, statistics and biostatistics on scholarship. They all deserved this.”
This is AWESOME! Dr. Simpson you join a cadre of Black mathematicians from institutions such as the University of Maryland College Park, where undergraduate STEM students (Math in particular) obtain Ph.Ds in the discipline. Congratulations! Dr. Joelle Davis Carter (WSSU-Class of 1995-Middle Grades Education)