Six decades of mathematical excellence
From one of Jackson State College’s first majors to a department granting doctorates in computational data enabled science and engineering, our history traces sixty years of teaching, research, and mentorship.
From Jackson State College to today
The Department of Mathematics and Statistical Sciences has been a part of Jackson State University since it was known as Jackson State College. Back then it was simply known as Mathematics, and it was one of the first majors at Jackson State College when the curriculum was expanded to include bachelor’s degree programs in arts and sciences.
It became a Department of Mathematics in 1962, and Robert E. Lee was the first chairperson of the department, serving from 1962 to 1966. The department was renamed again in 2014 to its current name — the Department of Mathematics and Statistical Sciences — to include, among the degrees offered, a bachelor’s degree program in statistics.
The Department of Mathematics and Statistical Sciences has attracted many external gifts of financial support and competitive grants over the years. It has four standing endowed scholarships for undergraduate students majoring in mathematics, mathematics education, and statistics.
- Established
- Department of Mathematics, 1962
- First Chairperson
- Robert E. Lee (1962–1966)
- Renamed
- Mathematics and Statistical Sciences, 2014
- Current Chair
- Tor A. Kwembe, PhD
- Faculty
- Twelve regular faculty members and several adjunct instructors
- College
- Science, Engineering, and Technology
- Location
- Ernest E. Just Hall of Science, Rm. 225
- Phone
- (601) 979-2161
An evolving department
The department has evolved over the years with the ever-increasing changing demands for mathematics and its applications, and has continued to modify its course offerings and degree programs. It has also continued to diversify its faculty specializations in order to keep pace with advances in mathematical research and service course provision for the university’s rich intellectual community and varying academic programs that have foundations in mathematics, statistics, and technological advances. Course offerings today range from college algebra to advanced research topics for doctoral students in CDSE.
Early faculty of the department
These faculty members and their colleagues, too numerous to mention, were the backbone of the quality mathematics instruction in the department, and were often honored for their excellence in teaching, research, and service.
Our graduates and their milestones
The graduates of our degree programs have successful records of accomplishment in business, education, government, and in professional, graduate, and advanced studies programs. Some have even become lawyers.
The major goal of the department is to provide every student at JSU — from freshmen enrolled in college algebra or calculus to master’s and doctoral candidates — a world-class foundation in mathematics, statistics, and CDSE that is necessary for success in a world that is perpetually moving.
Department chairs
Department of Mathematics
Department of Mathematics and Statistical Sciences
Degree programs offered over the years
Current and past offerings of the department.
Labs, tools, and support
The Department of Mathematics and Statistical Sciences operates four computer laboratories for teaching, research, and learning. It also operates a Laboratory for Interdisciplinary Statistical Analysis, Quantitative Exploration of Data and Visualization (LISA-QED) for research in Computational Data Enabled Science and Engineering (CDS&E).
Faculty and staff
Contact Mathematics & Statistical Sciences
For more information, please contact us at (601) 979-2161. We look forward to meeting with you and seeing how our program can help you achieve your goals.
1400 John R. Lynch Street, Jackson, MS 39217