Clarence Francis Stephens (July 24, 1917 – March 5, 2018) was the ninth
African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
to receive a
Ph.D.
A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, Ph.D., or DPhil; Latin: or ') is the most common degree at the highest academic level awarded following a course of study. PhDs are awarded for programs across the whole breadth of academic fields. Because it is a ...
in mathematics. He is credited with inspiring students and faculty at
SUNY Potsdam
The State University of New York at Potsdam (SUNY Potsdam or, colloquially, Potsdam) is a public college in Potsdam, New York. It is the northernmost member of the State University of New York (SUNY) system. Founded in 1816, it is among the ...
to form the most successful
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
undergraduate mathematics degree programs in the past century. Stephens was recognized by
Mathematically Gifted & Black
Mathematically Gifted & Black (MGB) is a website that features the accomplishments of black scholars in mathematical sciences. In addition to highlighting the work and lives of established mathematicians in the African Diaspora, the platform aims ...
as a Black History Month 2018 Honoree.
Early life
The fifth of six children, he was orphaned at the age of eight.
For his early education, he attended Harbison Agricultural and Industrial Institute, a boarding school for African-Americans in
Irmo, South Carolina
Irmo () is a town in Lexington County, South Carolina, Lexington and Richland County, South Carolina, Richland counties, South Carolina, United States and a suburb of Columbia, South Carolina, Columbia. It is part of the Columbia Columbia, South C ...
under Dean R. W. Bouleware and later President Rev John G. Porter.
Stephens graduated from
Johnson C. Smith University
Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU) is a Private university, private Historically black colleges and universities, historically black university in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA) and accredited by the ...
in 1938 with a B.S. degree in mathematics. He received his M.S. (1939) and his Ph.D. (1944) from the
University of Michigan
, mottoeng = "Arts, Knowledge, Truth"
, former_names = Catholepistemiad, or University of Michigania (1817–1821)
, budget = $10.3 billion (2021)
, endowment = $17 billion (2021)As o ...
. He was the 9th
African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
to receive a Ph.D in mathematics––for a thesis on ''Non-Linear Difference Equations Analytic in a Parameter'' under James Nyswander.
After serving in the
U.S. Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage o ...
(1942–1946) as a Teaching Specialist, Dr. Stephens joined the mathematics faculty of
Prairie View A&M University
Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU or PV) is a public historically black land-grant university in Prairie View, Texas. Founded in 1876, it is one of Texas's two land-grant universities and the second oldest public institution of higher learnin ...
. The next year (1947) he was invited to join the mathematics faculty at
Morgan State University
Morgan State University (Morgan State or MSU) is a public historically black research university in Baltimore, Maryland. It is the largest of Maryland's historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). In 1867, the university, then known ...
.
From research to teaching
As a
Mathematics Association of America
The Mathematical Association of America (MAA) is a professional society that focuses on mathematics accessible at the undergraduate level. Members include university, college, and high school teachers; graduate and undergraduate students; pure a ...
(MAA) biography explains, “Dr. Stephens' focus was on being a research mathematician, so he accepted the position in part because he would be near a research library at
Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University (Johns Hopkins, Hopkins, or JHU) is a private university, private research university in Baltimore, Maryland. Founded in 1876, Johns Hopkins is the oldest research university in the United States and in the western hem ...
. While at
Morgan State University
Morgan State University (Morgan State or MSU) is a public historically black research university in Baltimore, Maryland. It is the largest of Maryland's historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). In 1867, the university, then known ...
, Dr. Stephens became appalled at what a poor job was being done in general to teach and inspire students to learn mathematics. He changed his focus from being a researcher to achieving excellence, with desirable results, in teaching mathematics.
In 1953, he received a one-year Ford Fellowship to study at the
Institute for Advanced Study
The Institute for Advanced Study (IAS), located in Princeton, New Jersey, in the United States, is an independent center for theoretical research and intellectual inquiry. It has served as the academic home of internationally preeminent scholar ...
in Princeton, New Jersey.
Dr. Stephens remained at Morgan State until 1962, where is credited with initiating the program which led to five students achieving 91% to 99% on the graduate record exam in mathematics, three of these students (Earl R. Barnes, Arthur D. Grainger and Scott W. Williams) became the only three students of the same class at a Historically Black College to earn a PhD in mathematics. Stephens accepted an appointment as professor of mathematics at SUNY Geneseo. In 1969 he left Geneseo to join the mathematics faculty at
SUNY Potsdam
The State University of New York at Potsdam (SUNY Potsdam or, colloquially, Potsdam) is a public college in Potsdam, New York. It is the northernmost member of the State University of New York (SUNY) system. Founded in 1816, it is among the ...
, where he served as chair of the mathematics department until his
retirement
Retirement is the withdrawal from one's position or occupation or from one's active working life. A person may also semi-retire by reducing work hours or workload.
Many people choose to retire when they are elderly or incapable of doing their j ...
in 1987.
The MAA biography reports that during Dr. Stephens’ tenure at SUNY Potsdam "the department became nationally known as a model of teaching excellence in mathematics. For several of these years the program was among the top producers of mathematics majors in the country. The teaching techniques that Professor Stephens introduced at Potsdam, and earlier at Morgan State, have been adopted by many mathematics departments across the country. They have been described in publications by the MAA, and recently in a book, ''Math Education At Its Best: The Potsdam Model,'' by Datta (Center for Teaching/Learning of Mathematics, 1993)." He
turned 100 in July 2017 and died in March 2018.
Teaching method
Stephens pioneered "Morgan-Potsdam Model"
of teaching mathematics. The model was founded on the idea that the study of pure mathematics can be learned by a large number of students if they are provided with a supportive and caring environment. The environment was meant to consist of considerate and well trained teachers, continuous encouragement, successful role models, enough success to build self-esteem and the belief that education is a worth while effort. This made Stephens teaching method one of the most effective in producing mathematics majors.
Honours, decorations, awards and distinctions
* 1942 He received a Julius Rosenwald Fellowship reward
* 1943 He received a Ford Fellowship for contributing research as a member of the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey
* 1962 Honored by Governor J. Millard Tawes of Maryland for contributions to education
* 1976-77 he received the 1976-77 SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching
* 1987 honored by Governor Mario Cuomo of New York for contributions to education
Sources
Clarence Francis Stephens
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stephens, Clarence F.
1917 births
2018 deaths
20th-century American mathematicians
21st-century American mathematicians
African-American mathematicians
African-American centenarians
American men centenarians
Johnson C. Smith University alumni
American mathematics educators
Morgan State University faculty
Prairie View A&M University people
State University of New York faculty
University of Michigan College of Literature, Science, and the Arts alumni
20th-century African-American academics
20th-century American academics
21st-century African-American academics
21st-century American academics