Beverly Anderson facts for kids

Beverly Jacques Anderson (born September 10, 1943) is an American mathematician. She is a retired professor at the University of the District of Columbia. In the 1990s, she worked at the National Academy of Sciences. There, she directed programs to help minority students succeed in math. She led a special program called Making Mathematics Work for Minorities.

Early Life and Education

Anderson grew up in the 7th Ward of New Orleans. This was a time when schools were separated by race. Her parents, Alvin Joseph and Dorothy Ann, did not finish high school. Beverly attended Valena C. Jones School for elementary grades. She went to a high school for African-American students. There, she was very good at mathematics.

College and Graduate School

Anderson earned her first degree in mathematics from Dillard University. She was the first person in her family to leave New Orleans for college. She moved to Howard University for her graduate studies. Later, she earned her PhD from the Catholic University of America in 1978.

Career in Mathematics Education

Anderson started teaching mathematics at the University of the District of Columbia in 1969. She received an award from the White House. This award recognized her work at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Working at the National Academy of Sciences

In 1988, Anderson took a break from teaching. She joined the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences. There, she started the Making Mathematics Work for Minorities program. This program had three main goals:

• To bring attention to the need for more minority students in mathematics.
• To find the best ways to teach math to minority students.
• To create a national plan and partnerships to improve math education.

She held many workshops across the country. She shared ideas on how to help minority students do well in math. Anderson believed that teaching math without understanding different cultures could make it harder for students of color. She felt that traditional teaching methods often favored students from European backgrounds.

Improving Math Programs

Anderson noticed that minority students who started at two-year colleges were less likely to earn a four-year degree. She stressed that math programs in schools needed to be strong for a long time. She also believed that special schools should support math teachers. And that colleges should offer complete four-year math programs.

Leadership Roles

During her 40 years at the University of the District of Columbia, Anderson held many important jobs. She was a Professor of Mathematics. She also led the Mathematics Department. Later, she became the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. In 1997, she was made Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs. She continued to work as a consultant for the National Academy of Sciences. She helped with a math education report called Everybody Counts in 2000. In 2013, Anderson was chosen to be on the Prince George's County School Board.

See also

In Spanish: Beverly Anderson para niños