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Strengthening Underrepresented Minority Mathematics Achievement (SUMMA)

The Strengthening Underrepresented Minority Mathematics Achievement (SUMMA) Program of the Mathematical Association of America was established in 1990 to increase the representation of minorities in the fields of mathematics, science and engineering and improve the mathematics education of minorities.

SUMMA staff assist mathematicians in addressing issues that affect minority students and faculty on campuses, in schools, and in other mathematical organizations. SUMMA staff work directly with classroom teachers, building their capacity to obtain funding, and to state their needs. SUMMA provides: public dissemination of information on how to improve mathematics education for minorities; background information and historical data; sources of funding for projects; assistance in presentations to the public and its representatives; minority participation on committees and boards of the MAA; recommendations for external government and private panels.

Through funds from agencies and foundations, SUMMA has carried out projects as requested by its oversight MAA Committee on Minority Participation in Mathematics. Information on minorities and mathematics is given at presentations each year at MAA national meetings, and other educational forums.

SUMMA publishes an annual Directory of Mathematics-based Intervention Projects, a Project Director's Handbook, a quarterly newsletter, Best Lessons from SUMMAC Projects, the proceedings of a conference on Attracting Minorities into Teaching Mathematics, articles in the MAA newsletter FOCUS, and a two-color poster on African and African-American Pioneers in Mathematics. Single copies of the poster will be available to mathematics departments upon request as long as supplies last. Persons not affiliated with a college or university should ask their local middle or high school to contact their Texas Instruments sales representative to obtain a copy of the poster.

SUMMA also maintains an archival record of American Ph.D.s in mathematics and mathematics education who are members of minority groups.

Please send comments, corrections, and suggestions to the SUMMA office of the MAA to the attention of William A. Hawkins, Ph.D.

SUMMA would like to thank the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation for their interest, encouragement and support in the development of the SUMMA Website.