by Julie Lineback
Assistant Professor Dr. Christopher Jett of the Department of Mathematics at the University of West Georgia has been awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) Career Grant for his CAREER: Broadening Participation in STEM: A Qualitative Analysis of African-American Male STEM Majors’ Mathematics Experiences and Career Decisions. The recognition is one of the government agency’s most prestigious for junior faculty members and is presented to those who incorporate education and research into the missions of their institutions.
“I am both humbled and excited,” Dr. Jett stated. “This grant allows me to engage in a study exploring African-American male students' educational experiences and trajectories, so the implications of this work could improve the climate for these students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) majors and fields.”
By surveying and interviewing these current STEM majors at four distinct institutions (Clark Atlanta University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia State University, and Morehouse College), Dr. Jett hopes to improve efforts to recruit, retain, and advance future generations and provide insights into potential career paths.
The grant will support a graduate student and undergraduate students to assist with various aspects of the research project. Dr. Jett also plans to establish an African-American Male Mathematics Network (AAMMN) to support STEM undergraduate students and will serve as a national model for other institutions with similar research and education goals.
“The College of Science and Mathematics is proud of Dr Jett's work in improving opportunities for minorities in STEM fields,” said Dr. Scott Gordon, interim dean of the College of Science and Mathematics. “We are very pleased that the NSF has recognized his ability to make a valuable contribution in this area with this prestigious grant.”
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