 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
Richard Tapia
Richard Tapia's parents came to the United States from Mexico and established a family in Santa Monica, California. When Richard was a boy, he was insulted and teased by other children who made fun of his Mexican heritage. Richard's mother always encouraged him to take pride in his heritage, but it wasn't until Richard went to Mexico that he really felt pride in his ethnic background. However, Richard struggled to figure out where he fit in. In Mexico, people called him a "gringo," implying that he wasn't really Mexican, and in the United States, he was teased for being Mexican. It is an issue he still ponders.In college and graduate school at the University of California at Los Angeles, Richard pursued studies in advanced mathematics. He also began setting national records in drag racing, a favorite activity. After earning a Ph.D., he continued his research at the University of Wisconsin, then moved to Rice University in Texas. Although some people told him that he would never earn tenure at Rice, Richard kept working, publishing papers, completing research projects, and ultimately achieved his goal. Throughout his years as a researcher and a professor at Rice, Richard has balanced his time between his mathematical work and his outreach to students of color. He feels strongly about paving the way for young people to follow after him.
Richard and his family have overcome many challenges in their professional lives as well as in their personal lives. His wife, who was a professional dancer and dance instructor, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis soon after Richard received his tenure. The effects of the disease caused her to stop dancing and teaching, but she was able to create a new career for herself running an exercise program for people with disabilities. His wife's success is another indication to Richard that challenging situations will either break a person or make a person stronger.
Today Richard travels around the country giving lectures to students, professors, and professional organizations about the importance of recruiting, training, and encouraging young African-American, Latino, and Native-American students to pursue advanced work in mathematics and science. He holds several positions at Rice: as Noah Harding Professor of Mathematical Sciences, he teaches, works on research projects, and oversees graduate students; as associate director of Minority Affairs for the Office of Graduate Studies, he has helped increase the population of minority graduate students at the University; and as associate director of Education and Human Resources, he has created and directed programs aimed at attracting more minority students into the sciences. He has received numerous honors for his work, and was the first Mexican American elected to the National Academy of Engineering.
Activity Center || Utilities || Main Menu