UTSA Professor Manuel Berriozabal named fellow of American Mathematical Society

Manuel Berriozabal

By Kris Rodriguez
Public Affairs Specliast

(Feb. 6, 2013) -- Manuel Berriozábal, UTSA professor of mathematics in the College of Sciences, has been named an inaugural fellow of the American Mathematical Society (AMS) for outstanding contributions to the creation, exposition, advancement, communication and utilization of mathematics.

The AMS Fellows program was designed to increase the number of mathematicians recognized by their peers for distinguished contributions to the profession and to honor excellence.

Berriozábal is nationally recognized as the founder of the San Antonio Prefreshman Engineering Program in 1979 and was its program director through 2003. The four-year, mathematics-based summer program has been replicated throughout Texas as TexPREP and has received more than $40 million dollars in public and private funding and in-kind support. Funding sources include colleges and universities, the State of Texas, government agencies, public and private industry, individuals and school districts. The program also operates in locations outside of Texas as PREP-USA. More than 25,000 students have been served through PREP programs; the high school graduation rate among program participants is 99 percent; and the college attendance or college graduation rate is 90 percent.

"I consider it a great honor to be recognized with other professional colleagues who have made significant contributions in the mathematical sciences," said Berriozábal. "I very deeply appreciate the support that UTSA has provided me to pursue my work in mathematics in the service of our community."

Berriozábal's awards and achievements include the American Society for Cell Biology Bruce Alberts Award for Excellence in Science Education in 2009, the University of Texas System Chancellor's Council Innovations in Education Award in 2007, and the Mathematical Association of America Yueh-Gin Gung and Dr. Charles Y. Hu Award for Distinguished Service to Mathematics in 2001.

PREP program accolades include the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring, a Texas Higher Education Star Award, citations from the Texas Legislature, and a congressionally mandated BEST Building Engineering and Science Talent Project citation.

An author or co-author of more than 30 publications in journals and conference proceedings in topology and mathematics education, Berriozábal has made presentations at 60 local, state and national conferences involving engineering, science and mathematics education. Additionally, he has spoken before a congressional subcommittee on basic research and the Texas Lieutenant Governor's Special Commission on 21st Century Colleges and Universities.

He received a doctorate in mathematics from UCLA, a master's degree in mathematics from the University of Notre Dame, and a B.S. in mathematics from Rockhurst University in Kansas City.

Berriozabal serves as founding co-director of Ph.D. PREP.

For his lifelong efforts championing mathematics education, the San Antonio City Council renamed a local educational "one-stop shop" for college access advice, guidance and workshops the Dr. Manuel P. Berriozábal Café College. There will be a dedication ceremony at 3 p.m., Friday, Feb. 15.

Established in 1888 to further mathematical research and scholarship, the 30,000 member American Mathematical Society fulfills it mission through programs and services that promote mathematical research and its uses, strengthen mathematical education, and foster awareness and appreciation of mathematics and its connections to other disciplines and everyday life.