Dr. Uri Treisman

Biography

Philip Uri Treisman is a professor of mathematics renowned for his innovative contributions to improving mathematics education, particularly for underrepresented minority students. He serves as the University Distinguished Teaching Professor of Mathematics at the University of Texas at Austin and is the founder of the Charles A. Dana Center, dedicated to ensuring that students, regardless of life circumstances, have access to an excellent education. Treisman earned his undergraduate degree in mathematics, summa cum laude, from the University of California, Los Angeles, and pursued graduate studies at the University of California, Berkeley, where he obtained his Ph.D. in 1985. In the late 1970s and early 1980s at UC Berkeley, Treisman conducted research that addressed the high failure rates of minority students in undergraduate calculus courses. His work led to the development of the Emerging Scholars Program (ESP), which emphasized collaborative learning and high expectations, enabling students to excel rather than merely avoid failure. The program has been widely adopted throughout the United States and has significantly improved retention and success rates for minority students in mathematics. Over his career, Treisman has received numerous honors and awards, including the Charles Dana Award for Pioneering Achievement in American Higher Education in 1987 and the MacArthur Fellowship in 1992. His research interests span mathematics education, policy, and social developmental psychology.

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