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Sierra Toney
Professor Adams
FRST 101
18 October 2017
Faculty Interview
For the faculty interview I chose my calculus instructor, Dr. Barbara Tankersley. She is
an Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics here at North Carolina A&T State
University. I chose to interview Dr.Tankersley because I too am considering going into a field
where there are few women of color. This interview was encouraging because I noticed
Barbara Tankersley was born in Augusta, Georgia, raised by a single mother with two
older sisters and a younger brother. During the summers, she recalls playing school with her
sisters. Math was always her favorite subject, however she never thought she would end up
teaching it. After graduating high school, she attended Paine College. While at Paine, she met
her mentor, Ms.Naomi Mac, who also became one of her greatest supporters.
University for graduate school. While attending, she was able to study mathematics with a team
of like minded students and teach as a graduate assistant for the first time. Networking at A &T
allowed her to develop connections to the PhD program at Howard University. After applying,
she was accepted and enrolled in Howard University for her PhD.
I was surprised to learn about the many obstacles that she overcame. During her first few
weeks as a graduate student at Howard University, her grandmother passed away. Before
completing the PhD program, her mother passed away. Her father passed away during the first
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week of classes in the fall of 2016. If anyone asks her how shes made it through all of her
obstacles, she would tell you it is the result of persistence, prayer, and hard work.
Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. She primarily teaches mathematics to
STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) majors. Currently, she is working on
the SCALE-UP team in the mathematics department as she looks ahead to becoming a full
professor.
From this interview, I now know that I will be able to handle being a woman of color in a
field where it is not easy for women. Dr. Tankersley ended by providing me a piece of advice to
apply to my academic journey. This advice was to always keep in mind that I have what it takes
to be successful.