Dr. Lou Edward Matthews is a professor of middle/secondary mathematics education in the School of Education at the University of South Carolina Upstate in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Dr. Matthews has been involved in mathematics education in the United States and Bermuda for the past 15 years where he has taught at the middle, high school, and college levels since receiving Bachelor of Science degrees in Mathematics and Accounting from Atlantic Union College in 1991. Subsequently, He obtained a Masters of Education in Secondary Mathematics from Alabama A&M University in 1994 and a Ph.D. in Mathematics Education from Illinois State University in May 2002. Dr. Matthews’ continued research and professional activities have focused on helping teachers incorporate visions of mathematics teaching and learning excellent that draw from both current reform ideology and culturally relevant pedagogy. Dr. Matthews’ has recently authored, "Babies Overboard!" The Complexities of Incorporating Culturally Relevant Teaching into Mathematics Instruction was featured in Educational Studies in Mathematics (Vol. 53, 2003); and “This Little Light of Mine!” Entering Voices of Cultural Relevancy into Mathematics Reform Conversation (Under Review). Recently, Dr. Matthews has been a part of national efforts t o impact the mathematics achievement gap for African American students and was among 35 mathematics educators and educators nationwide, invited to participate in a NSF-funded national summit: Closing the Mathematics Achievement Gap of African-American Students on October 7-9, 2004 in Washington, DC. Dr. Matthews has remained active both nationally and internationally, as an mathematics educational consultant, researcher and sought after motivational speaker, addressing audiences of parents, teachers and students, as well as professional groups throughout the Southern and Midwestern United States and Bermuda. Some of his recent talk titles include:
- Black Masculinity, the Limitations Of Public Schooling, And A Vision Of “What Could Be,”
- Mathematics Teachers Unchained! Reform, Relevance and Revolution
- Tryin' to make a dollar out of fifteen cents! The promise of culturally relevant teaching