I began to understand the challenges that first-generation college students and students of color have in college.

In life sciences, we find a reasonable balance between men and women. In engineering and computer science, we have a major problem. A very small percentage of women will be in computer science.

Rich kids work hard. Most black kids aren't working hard enough.

I began to understand the challenges that first-generation college students and students of color have in college.

Most people don't realize that it's not just minorities who don't do well in science and engineering - quite frankly, you're talking about Americans.

It is part of the work of education to have substantive relationships with your students.

My mother was an English teacher who decided to become a math teacher, and she used me as a guinea pig at home. My father had been a math teacher and then went to work at a steel mill because, frankly, he could make more money doing that.