Department of Mathematics

Department of Mathematics
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1880s

10/1889 First mathematics courses offered

Mathematics courses were offered when the North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts opened.

1890s

1895 Department of Civil Engineering and Mathematics established

The mechanics course curricula was divided. The result was the creation of the Department of Civil Engineering and Mathematics.

1900s

1906-1932 Robert E. Lee Yates served as head of the Department of Mathematics

1930s

1932-1957 Hilbert Fisher served as head of the Department of Mathematics
Dr. Hilbert A. Fisher portraitDr. Hilbert A. Fisher portrait

1940s

1949 Women faculty increased

Twenty-two women were listed on the faculty, most at the instructor or laboratory technician level. Departments with more than one woman employee included English (six), statistics (three), textiles (three), and modern languages (two). Women were also on the faculty in architecture, agricultural economics, mathematics, physics, social studies, chemistry, engineering, research, and agronomy.

1950s

1957-1967 John Wesley Cell served as head of the Department of Mathematics
Dr. John W. Cell teaching at chalkboardDr. John W. Cell teaching at chalkboard

1960s

1966 Faculty wrote report on Computing Center

Paul E. Lewis and John W. Cell of the Department of Mathematics wrote a report recommending the reconstitution of the Computing Center in the Department of Computer Science within the School of Physical Sciences and Applied Mathematics.

Paul Lewis portraitPaul Lewis portrait
1968-1977 Nicholas J. Rose served as head of the Department of Mathematics
Dr. Nicholas RoseDr. Nicholas Rose
5/20/1968 John W. Cell Library dedicated

The Cell Library was founded as a departmental library for mathematics and named for John W. Cell, head of the Department of Mathematics.

Dr. John W. Cell portraitDr. John W. Cell portrait

1970s

1974 Dr. Lawrence M. Clark hired

Dr. Lawrence M. Clark (1934-2012) was hired as Associate Provost. Dr. Clark was the second African American to serve as a university administrator. In addition to serving as a professor in mathematics education, Dr. Clark coordinated all activities related to the university's Affirmative Action Plan. Dr. Clark was instrumental in the founding of NC State's African American Cultural Center, the Peer Mentor program, and the African American Symposium.

Lawrence M. Clark portraitLawrence M. Clark portrait
1977-1980 James M. Ortega served as head of the Department of Mathematics
James M. Ortega portraitJames M. Ortega portrait

1980s

1980-1989 Ernest E. Burniston served as head of the Department of Mathematics
1989-1999 Robert H. Martin, Jr. served as head of the Department of Mathematics

1990s

1999-2002 Ernest E. Burniston served second term as head of the Department of Mathematics

2000s

2002-2003 Bernard Mair served as head of the Department of Mathematics
2004 Department of Mathematics history written

Nicholas J. Rose wrote the History of the Mathematics Department at North Carolina State University.

Nicholas J. Rose, Head of Department of MathematicsNicholas J. Rose, Head of Department of Mathematics
2006-2009 Aloysius Helminck served as head of the Department of Mathematics
2009 SAS Hall dedicated

SAS Hall was dedicated as the new home of the Departments of Mathematics and Statistics. The 119,000 square-foot building housed state-of-the-art classrooms, computer labs, tutorial centers and meeting and study space for students and faculty.

SAS HallSAS Hall

2010s

2015 Alina Chertock became head of the Department of Mathematics