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ON ABDULALIM ABDULLAH SHABAZZ


Abdulalim Abdullah Shabazz was born in Bessemer, Alabama, USA. He received the Bachelor's of Arts degree with honors in Chemistry and Mathematics from Lincoln University, Pennsylvania (1949 within three years, salutatorian of his class), the Master's degree in Mathematics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) (1951), and the PhD degree in Mathematics from Cornell University (1955).

Dr Shabazz has held positions in industry as well as in academia. His appointments have included that of research mathematician at the Cornell Aeronautical Laboratory in Buffalo, NY and at the Metals Research Laboratory of the Electro Metallurgical Company in Niagara Falls, NY. He has served on the teaching faculty of several universities including Cornell University; Tuskegee University; Alabama State University; Atlanta University; Muhammad University of Islam in the District of Columbia and in Chicago, Illinois; Umm Al Qura University in Makkah, Saudi Arabia; Clark Atlanta University; Morehouse College; and Lincoln University of Pennsylvania.

Presently, Dr Shabazz is The Endowed Chair in Mathematics and Professor of Mathematics at Grambling State University in Grambling, LA in the Department of Mathematics & Computer Science; but previously he was Distinguished Professor of Mathematics in the Department of Mathematics & Computer Science at Lincoln University (Pennsylvania). Dr Shabazz's work with students has been recognized by the Mathematical Sciences Education Board, as well as by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), which presented him with the 1992 "Mentor Award" for his leadership in efforts to increase the participation of women, minorities, and individuals with physical disabilities in science and engineering. He received the National Association of Mathematicians Distinguished Service Award on 23 April 1994 for his years of mentoring and teaching excellence, was named an outstanding alumnus of Lincoln University on 17 April 1999 at Lincoln University's Founders Day Celebration, was selected to be the Philadelphia New Observer's Educator of the Year on 19 April 2000, was awarded a 2000 USA Presidential Award in recognition of his excellence in mentoring underrepresented students and encouraging their significant achievement in science, mathematics and engineering, was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award for outstanding work with African Americans in mathematics from the Association of African American Educators on 16 March 2001 in San Diego, CA, was presented the Mary McLeod Bethune Outstanding Teacher Award in recognition of his pledge and continued service as an advocate for African American learners from the National Alliance of Black School Educators (NABSE) on 16 November 2001 in Los Angeles, CA, was presented the Third Annual Friends of Farrell Alumni Award on 16 July 2005 for his unselfish acts and constant support of Lincoln University and the Alumni Association, was invited in fall 2005 to write an autobiographical chapter entitled Grace Amazing: Developing the Underrepresented in Mathematics to be included in the book The Black Professional's Guide to Career Success which is to be published some time in 2008, was presented a certificate of honor for scholarly work since 2000 from the Lincoln University Board of Trustees on 10 February 2007, and was presented an engraved trophy award in deep appreciation for outstanding and unique contributions to education theory in mathematics by Jamaat Al-Muslimeen of North America on 19 May 2007. Dr Shabazz also is a 1995 recipient of the QEM/MSE Giants in Science Award.

Dr Shabazz has traveled widely as a lecturer and consultant and has authored over one hundred publications on Islam, Mathematics, Mathematics Education, and on the History and Philosophy of Mathematics, including three books, one of which is unpublished. In addition, he served as a member of the Census Advisory Committee on the Black Population for the 1980 Census and as a member of the Chaplains' Advisory Committee of the Department of Corrections for the State of Michigan (1979-1982). He is a past Chair of the Higher Education Commission and a past member of the Board of Directors of the National Alliance of Black School Educators (NABSE) (1 January 2001 – 31 December 2002). He holds life memberships in the American Mathematical Society, the Mathematical Association of America, the National Association of Mathematicians, and the National Alliance of Black School Educators; and he holds memberships in the Association of Muslim Scientists and Engineers, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the Benjamin Banneker Association and Sigma Xi.

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