“Bill’s mentorship has made an amazing difference to my career,” says Hampshire, who first met Massey 10 years ago as a college intern at Bell Labs. “With Bill, the context is always academic rigor — he calls it ‘research-driven mentoring.’”
“I’m incredulous when I hear people say things like, ‘What do math and science mean for Black people?’” says Massey. “They’re the language of all technology and commerce.”
Having more minority mathematicians contributing to the field means better mathematical science, Massey believes. “In the world of research, new results and discoveries get the credit,” he says. “How better to achieve this, than by seeing things differently? Coming from a minority background makes you see differently.”
— By Saira Moini
© Copyright 2005 by DiverseEducation.com
