Society of African American
Physical and Mathematical Scientists
The Society of African American Physical and Mathematical Scientists, better known as SAA-PAMS, serves as the minority organization for the college of Physical and Mathematical Sciences at NC State University. SAA-PAMS prides itself in graduating and retaining their students, and recruiting young prospects into the wonderful field of Physical and Mathematical Sciences.
SAA-PAMS, was first
thought of on November 19, 1984 during a “Can We Talk” session. Ms.
Jackie Jeffries McLaughlin brought up the idea in the meeting and several
follow-up meetings occurred. The idea to create and establish an
organization whose goal would be to further aid in the retention and graduation
rate of Black students in the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences was
embraced by students, faculty and staff, and finally received the official
title of SB-PAMS [the Society of Black Physical and Mathematical Scientists] in
1985. Later that same year, Walter Gould would become the organization’s
first president.
Their vehicle to
fulfill their primary goal of increasing the retention and graduation rate of
Black students in PAMS was the implementation of tutorials that would gravely
benefit students interested in the areas of Applied Mathematics,
Biomathematics, Chemistry, Marine Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Mathematics,
Physics, and Statistics.
From 1985 until the
present, the umbrella goals of PAMS have been amended, but not drastically
changed. These goals were the tools that helped to keep SAA-PAMS
alive. These goals were as follows:
1. To establish
a network between students and faculty
2.
Provide an environment wherein students’ needs could be met in a friendly,
professional manner
3.
Assure incoming freshmen that team work is the key
4.
Provide situations where PAMS students would be able to interact with other
students in other curriculums
5.
Establish a network between students and the business community.
