Floyld L. Williams is Professor of Mathematics at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He earned his Ph.D. in the area of representation theory, and has published more than 60 research papers and 3 books. Professor Williams has given more than 100 major invited lectures, colloquia, and seminar talks at universities and institutes in 16 countries. A tribute to his contributions is posted by the MAA and the Mathematicians of the African Diaspora.

    At the symposium, we will be privileged to hear him offer:

    "Some thoughts on teaching, mentoring, learning, and use of knowledge"

    Abstract

    The path towards career is a path of privilege indeed as one considers that many doors for such an opportunity have been and are yet closed for many persons. In America, for example, children at the turn of the century were subject to long hours of work with no opportunity for schooling. As the inactment of protective child labor laws progressed, so did the uncluttering of the path towards education and career. I wish to discuss the singular and honored privilege many young people have today to travel the path towards life-long learning, and the high responsibility that carries, moreover, for the proper and ethical use of attained knowledge. Teachers, and older persons in general, can share more fully in that adventurous life process by being mentors. Mentors are more than teachers or advisors in that they invest more of self and emotion not only in a student's educational journey, but investment is made also towards their general welfare.

    Floyd William's Abstract put me in mind of a Reflection for the Day attributed to Arthur Ashe:
    "From what we get, we can make a living; what we give, however, makes a life."