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Scott Williams, Professor of Mathematics
A Short Biography I could be described as an African American male born in 1943 on Staten Island, New York to the African Americans Dr. Roger K., of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and Dr.(hon.) Beryl E. Williams, of Bangor, Maine. After World War II we lived in Greensboro, North Carolina before emigrating, in 1948, to Baltimore, Maryland, where I was raised. In Buffalo, I have three daughters: Rachael (a junior in English&Journalism at SUNY@Buffalo), Rebekah (a Freshman at SUNY@Buffalo), and Eve (at age 11 she has been to countries, I've never visited). In 1995, I married Glo E. Watkins Aniebo, Assistant to the Chair of the Department of Psychology at SUNY@Buffalo. Heritage: Mostly African (Yoruba, we think), 1/8 Algonquin (mother's mother from Ontario), 1/16 Carribean Canadian (mother's father had a grandfather who emigrated in 1830's from Haiti to St. Croix to Nova Scotia), 1/16 French (the owner of my father's mother and grandmother). Education: Integration of Baltimore Public Schools (1957) allowed me a good education. Indirectly, Sputnik allowed my mathematical skills to be honed in 1959. Raised in Baltimore (City College for high school (1960) and Morgan State for B.S. (1964). I have an M.S. (Lehigh University 1967 in Mathematics) and Ph.D. (Lehigh University 1969 in Mathematics - Topology with a minor in Algebra). Since 1971, I've been a student of the teachings of George Ivanovich Gurdjieff. Professional data: I have worked at International Business Machines (1964), Pennsylvania State University- College Park, Ohio University, The Institute for Medicine and Mathematics, and Charles University (Prague). Currently living in Buffalo, New York where I am a Professor of Mathematics. I have authored over 30 papers on mathematical research and have a book informally titled The Black Arts of Topology with Homotopy. I have lectured at over 75 universities and research institutions, in the U.S., Canada, China, Czech Republic, England, The Netherlands, and Poland. I am a regular columnist with the web journal Topology Atlas. Other stuff: Music: Played saxophone, piano, and/or congas professionally (1959-69). Writing: I have had poetry, short stories and essays published (1967- present). Visual Arts: Exhibited (1969-71) lucite sculpture. My work (1972-1983) as a blacksmith in ornamental and functional ironwork with TheRochester Folk Art Guild has been exhibited in numerous places around the U.S. I paint in acrylics (1983-96). I worked with computer graphics (1996-present) Political/Social Stuff: Founded several African American organizations, and have been consultant to National Science Foundation, Ford Foundation, National Research Council, and National Security Agency. Locally I've worked with a National Public Radio affiliate, the United Parents, and The Circle Brotherhood association (a group of African-American men practicing, and dedicated to, the quality of life, successful manhood and parenting, economic growth and development, and the pursuit of excellence and spiritual development). | |||||||||||
