Charles Bernard Pierre   

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Dissertation Title: Quality Control in Education.
Advisor: Mary W. Gray

Charles Pierre was born into a large family of eight children in 1946. He anticipated a music scholarship upon graduation from high school which unfortunately fell through so he went to a local university. The local university turned out to be a blessing in disguise. He took general mathematics courses his first year and did very well, and this convinced him to major in mathematics.

Upon receiving his Master's degree, he joined the Peace Corps. Pierre traveled in West Africa as a mathematics researcher with the West African Regional Math Program, a research organization sponsored by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was involved with writing a series of national mathematics tests for grades K-14 which were adopted in West Africa, and a series of mathematics textbooks for grades K-14 which were adopted in both East and West Africa. Pierre worked at editing and revising, teacher training and acted as a resource person, writing additional books for teachers. He was immersed in mathematics, since those most involved with the program were mathematicians. All discussion was of mathematics, over dinner, at the local bar, or while driving down the road. "This experience caused me to fall in love with mathematics," Pierre explains.

Upon returning to the United States, Pierre tried to publish his texts, but was unable to do so. Publishers, who were busy working on text book series for grades K-12 in 1977-78, explained that he, in essence, was a "nobody," because he did not have a doctorate. Thus he returned to graduate school to obtain his Ph.D. He did this at American University where he was allowed to pursue his interest in mathematics, statistics, education, and international relations.

Pierre has a love of mathematics and a strong belief in teaching. His teaching philosophy can be stated as "Those who can, teach. Those who can't, don't, and I can." He has taught in both public and private secondary schools, and at the community college and university levels.

[Vicki Hill]