James A. Donaldson facts for kids

James Ashley Donaldson (April 17, 1941 — October 18, 2019) was an American mathematician. He was a professor at Howard University. There, he helped create a special PhD program in mathematics. He also played a key role in starting the National Association of Mathematicians.

Early Life and Education

James Donaldson was born on April 17, 1941. He grew up on a farm near Tallahassee, Florida. During his childhood, he attended schools that were separated by race.

His high school math teacher gave him important advice. He suggested that James attend college in the northern United States. James followed this advice and went to Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. He earned his bachelor's degree in mathematics from Lincoln in 1961.

After Lincoln, he continued his studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. He earned his Master's degree in 1963. Then, in 1965, he completed his PhD. His advanced studies focused on partial differential equations, which are special types of math problems.

Career Highlights

After finishing his PhD, Donaldson worked at several universities for short periods. These included Southern University, Howard University, and the University of New Mexico.

In 1971, he returned to Howard University as a professor. He stayed there for most of his career. From 1972 to 1990, he led the mathematics department at Howard. In this role, he was very important in creating a PhD program in mathematics. This program started in 1976. It was the first PhD program in mathematics at a historically black college or university.

In 1998 and 1999, Donaldson took a break from Howard. He served as the acting president of Lincoln University. This was the same university where he had earned his first degree. He returned to Howard in 1999. From that year until 2012, he was the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Donaldson retired in 2013 and was given the title of emeritus professor.

Working for Mathematicians

In 1969, James Donaldson helped start the National Association of Mathematicians. This group helps promote mathematics among people from underrepresented groups. He was the first editor of the group's newsletter. He also served on its board of directors from 1984 to 1994. Donaldson also served on the council of the American Mathematical Society.

Awards and Recognition

In 2018, Lincoln University gave Donaldson an honorary doctoral degree. This was a special award from his old college. In 2021, a special meeting was held in his honor. It was part of the Joint Mathematics Meetings.

Death

James Donaldson passed away on October 18, 2019. He died from heart disease at his home in Washington D.C..