Guyanese-born Dr. Terrence Blackman is an affiliate professor and chair of the Division of Arithmetic at Medgar Evers Faculty, Metropolis College of New York (CUNY).
A devoted educator, researcher, and advocate for variety within the mathematical sciences, Dr. Blackman has spent his profession increasing alternatives for underrepresented college students in STEM whereas contributing to international discussions on financial improvement and coverage.
Dr. Blackman is a distinguished mathematician whose analysis spans spectral geometry, quaternion algebras, and quantum computing.
On Thursday, the affiliate professor advised Caribbean Life that his work in pure arithmetic has led to “vital developments within the discipline, notably in understanding the Langlands Program and the relationships between automorphic varieties for various arithmetic teams.”
He stated his analysis on spectral correspondences for Maass waveforms and quaternion algebras has supplied “new insights into deep issues on the intersection of quantity idea and geometry.”
Dr. Blackman stated his current paper, “Quick Navigation with Icosahedral Golden Gates,” explores the sensible functions of quaternion algebra strategies in quantum computing, particularly enhancing the effectivity of quantum gate decompositions.
“This analysis has far-reaching implications, contributing not solely to theoretical arithmetic but in addition to the event of fault-tolerant quantum computation—an important problem in advancing quantum know-how,” Dr. Blackman stated.
He stated that past his contributions to pure arithmetic, he has made “substantial strides” in utilized analysis and arithmetic schooling.
Dr. Blackman stated his work creating transformative studying environments for underrepresented college students has led to “vital insights and sensible functions, immediately impacting arithmetic schooling and broadening participation in STEM fields.”
Dr. Blackman is the chair of the Government Council of The Nationwide Alliance for Doctoral Research within the Mathematical Sciences, a corporation dedicated to growing the variety of college students from underrepresented teams who pursue doctoral levels within the mathematical sciences.
He additionally serves on the Board of Administrators of the Nationwide Affiliation of Mathematicians (NAM), the place he performs a key function in supporting the development of African American mathematicians.
Beforehand, Dr. Blackman was dean of the Faculty of Science, Well being, and Know-how at Medgar Evers Faculty (2016–2019), the place he labored to strengthen arithmetic and science schooling for college students in Central Brooklyn.
Dr. Blackman stated his work shaping math schooling has prolonged past the school degree. He has been lobbying Congress by means of the American Mathematical Society (AMS) on fairness, variety, and inclusion points in arithmetic and schooling.
He stated he’s “a passionate advocate for broadening entry to arithmetic.”
He based and led the Frank Ragland Math Grasp’s Program, a Medgar Evers Faculty initiative that gives mentorship, educational help, and tutoring for college students from underserved communities getting ready for specialised highschool admissions and past.
Dr. Blackman stated his analysis and educating experiences have additionally influenced his authorship of Fundamentals for Calculus, an upcoming ebook targeted on strengthening pre-calculus schooling as a basis for achievement in STEM fields.
As well as, Dr. Blackman stated he’s engaged on a biographical ebook highlighting the contributions of Black mathematicians to the mathematical sciences, that includes students resembling Jonathan Mboyo Esole, Edray Herber Goins, Trachette Jackson, Donald King, William Massey, and Kate Okikiolu.
Dr. Blackman has held prestigious educational appointments, together with serving as a Visiting Assistant Professor on the Massachusetts Institute of Know-how’s (MIT) Division of Arithmetic (2012–2013) as a part of the MIT Martin Luther King, Jr. Visiting Professors and Students Program.
“This distinguished fellowship brings distinctive students and professionals from underrepresented backgrounds to MIT to counterpoint its educational and analysis atmosphere,” he stated, stating that, throughout his tenure, he “engaged in superior analysis in mathematical sciences, collaborated with MIT college, and supplied mentorship to college students, notably these from underrepresented backgrounds, aligning with this system’s mission of advancing variety in academia.”
In 2023, Dr. Blackman was honored by The HistoryMakers, the nation’s most outstanding African American video oral historical past archive, recognizing his contributions to arithmetic, schooling, and mentorship.
He stated this distinction locations him amongst an elite group of students and leaders whose tales and legacies are preserved for future generations.
Moreover, Dr. Blackman was acknowledged by Mathematically Gifted & Black. This initiative highlights the contributions of Black mathematicians and their impression on the sphere.
He additionally stated this recognition underscores his ongoing dedication to arithmetic schooling, variety in STEM, and group engagement.
Beneath Dr. Blackman’s management, the Math Alliance was a finalist for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Arithmetic, and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM), a prestigious recognition that celebrates people and organizations who’ve demonstrated excellent efforts in mentoring college students and early-career professionals in STEM.
Past academia, Dr. Blackman stated he based the Guyana Enterprise Journal and Journal, a platform devoted to fostering financial discourse and coverage discussions associated to Guyana’s improvement within the oil and fuel period.
He hosts the “Remodeling Guyana” webinar sequence, which engages international consultants, policymakers, and enterprise leaders in discussing the nation’s financial transformation.
Dr. Blackman stated he has moderated key discussions, together with Imaginative and prescient 2040: Guyana’s Nationwide Growth Plan and A Guyanese Common Primary Revenue within the Period of Oil and Fuel.
Dr. Blackman stated he has additionally organized Diaspora Dialogues and the Navigating a Altering Guyana sequence in Washington, D.C., New York, Florida, Atlanta, and London.
“These boards deliver collectively members of the Guyanese Diaspora, policymakers, and enterprise leaders to interact in significant conversations about financial alternatives, governance, and the function of the diaspora in Guyana’s improvement,” he stated.
Dr. Blackman stated his dedication extends past skilled and educational pursuits. As a father, he stated he’s pleased with his daughter, Sasha, an achieved flutist and scholar on the Particular Music Faculty in Manhattan, the place she has carried out internationally and received quite a few prestigious competitions.
His son, Madiba, is a medical scholar in Brooklyn, following the household’s custom of educational excellence in service to the group. Dr. Blackman stated he has been married to his spouse, Anna, for 15 years.
With a profession spanning arithmetic, schooling, coverage, and financial improvement, Dr. Blackman stated he stays “dedicated to increasing entry, fostering alternative, and shaping a legacy of inclusive excellence in arithmetic and the sciences.”
