Mulatu Lemma

Savannah State University | Savannah, GA | 2020

Mulatu Lemma Portrait Photo

This is an award which recognizes those mentors who made great contributions in engaging minorities in STEM and produce future mathematicians, scientists, and engineers for our great nation. In fact, since 1995, PAESMEM is responsible for encouraging individuals and organizations to be involved in effective mentoring skills that generate access to opportunities in mathematical sciences for underrepresented groups which would not have otherwise been possible.

The official biography below was current at the time of the award. Awardees may choose to provide their latest biographical information on their profile page.

Mulatu Lemma has taught mathematics at Savannah State University for 25 years. He previously spent five years teaching and mentoring at Awash Junior College, Ethiop. Mulatu has a deep commitment to increasing the number of minorities in mathematics and other STEM fields using the power of mentoring. He is dedicated to developing and nurturing “mathematically-inclined” minority students through mentoring activities in mathematics so that they gain a solid foundation to help them succeed in schools and in their careers. He believes that active mentoring programs produce a new generation of mathematically-skilled students. In the fall 2019 semester, he mentored 14 students—nine females and five males. His students’ papers were recently accepted for publication in peer reviewed journals. He is highly involved in mentoring students to help them to build self-confidence, self-esteem, and research experience. He has mentored students who range in age from 12 to 63. Mulatu has published more than 100 papers in peer reviewed journals and 50% of these are with student mentees and junior faculty. He has shared in various meetings about the importance of engaging undergraduate students in research activities and helping them to present or publish their papers. Mulatu earned a B.S. in mathematics education from Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia. He received his doctorate in pure mathematics from Kent State University. His honors include Distinguished Professor at Savannah State University in 2010, the 2012 University System of Georgia Board of Regents’ Teaching Excellence Award for Faculty in Regional and State Universities, the 2013 Georgia Professor of the Year, and the 2019 Marquis Who’s Who Top Educator in teaching research and mentoring.