Te’a Riley & Dewayne Dixon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Te’a Riley, PhD Student, The University of Texas at Arlington

Hi, my name is Te’a Riley, a 5th year Ph.D. student in mathematics education from Columbus, OH. I received my Bachelor of Science in mathematics from Spelman College in 2019 and joined the Bridge to Doctorate program at The University of Texas at Arlington where I am completing my Ph.D. My research focuses on factors that contribute to the success of students from historically disenfranchised groups in advanced mathematics.

Growing up, I’ve always excelled in mathematics and science, but I never had a passion for mathematics. I loved chemistry in high school, so I decided to major in chemistry not necessarily knowing what I wanted to do with the degree. With chemistry, we were required to take advanced mathematics courses, and that’s when I learned that I really loved mathematics. I remember this moment like it was yesterday; my chemistry professor told us that the career we choose, we should be willing to do it for free. Meaning, choose something that you really love regardless of the money. I switched my major to mathematics my sophomore year and never looked back!

I know mathematics isn’t pushed in our community (trust me, I did not know my potential until I got to college), but there are people out there that are rooting for you! Find those people and keep them forever. There are many paths you can take with a mathematics degree. Join internships, try teaching, conduct research, expand your knowledge of what a mathematician looks like and what he/she does.

 

Dewayne Dixon, PhD Student, Howard University

Raised in Augusta, Georgia, by my paternal grandparents, I navigated early life without my biological parents. This unique upbringing fostered resilience, leading me to become a first-generation college graduate with a BS in Mathematics from Morehouse College in 2014. My teaching experience post-graduation revealed a decline in mathematical skills among students, inspiring me to seek further education to make a broader impact. The loss of my brother propelled me towards earning an MS in Mathematics from Virginia State University in 2018, where I delved into Deep Learning and Neural Networks, sparking my interest in applying mathematical sciences to real-world problems.

Currently, as a PhD candidate at Howard University, I focus on Machine Learning in Bioinformatics/Genetics, particularly PTSD, while developing an AI-integrated mathematics curriculum at Howard University and at Howard University Middle School for Math and Science, as the AI Mathematics Curriculum Development Specialist. This dual role not only furthers my academic pursuits but also aims to modernize mathematics education to spark student interest in AI at both secondary and post-secondary levels.

My journey, marked by personal and educational milestones, highlights the power of perseverance through adversity. Echoing Frederick Douglass’s words, ‘If there is no struggle, there is no progress.’ I view challenges as opportunities for growth. My advice is to embrace every obstacle as a step towards enlightenment, reminding us that persistence in the face of difficulties leads to substantial achievements.