Alumni Highlights

If you received a degree in Mathematics or Actuarial Science from Morgan State University, we'd love to hear from you!

What was your path after graduating from Morgan State? What are you doing now? How does your work involve mathematics? In what ways did receiving a Math/Actuarial Science degree prove useful in your career or life? These are "sum" of what we are curious to know from you!

Please complete this ALUMNI QUESTIONNAIRE to send us your news! Sharing your story will help make an impact on our students and our entire Morgan Math Family!

FEATURED ALUMNI

Ms. Paula J. Roberts is a retired civil servant who resides in Georgetown, Delaware. She has been an active member of Sussex County   since December 2011.

In February 2010, Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair appointed Paula Roberts to the Senior National Intelligence Service as the U.S. Intelligence Community's Chief Human Capital Officer. In this position, Ms. Roberts led the design, development, and execution of human resources strategies, plans, and policies in support of the men and women who serve in our nation's intelligence agencies. Most notable was her success with Congress to increase funding for Foreign Language training across the Intelligence Community. She served in this position until her retirement.

Before assuming her last position Ms. Roberts served as the Director of the Human Development Directorate at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). In this position, she partnered with Agency leadership on workforce initiatives to achieve mission success, providing integrated programs that attract, engage, develop, and retain a world-class workforce and foster a positive, creative Geospatial-Intelligence (GEOINT) culture.

From March 2006 to December 2008, Ms. Roberts served as the Deputy Director of the Analysis and Production Directorate (P) ensuring the provision of timely, relevant, and accurate Geospatial Intelligence analysis, data, and services to customers in support of the nation's interests at home and abroad. Ms. Roberts was responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the 4,000-person P Directorate.

Ms. Roberts also served as the NGA Equality Executive (EX) and as the Deputy to the NGA Chief Operations Officer. As the EX, Ms. Roberts was the senior manager focused on NGA's commitment to a culture of partnership, diversity, collaboration, creativity, risk-taking, and mutual trust and respect. As Deputy to the Chief Operations Officer, she shared responsibility for NGA's governance structure and Mission Support Offices. Ms. Roberts previously served as NGA's Comptroller. In this capacity, she exercised the authority for an integrated resource and financial management system including program analysis and evaluation, budgeting, financial management, manpower and management analysis.

From July 2000 to September 2001, Ms. Roberts served as the NGA Chief of Staff under the leadership of General James King, USA. She also spent one year as a Special Assistant to the Assistant Director for Central Intelligence for Collection at the Community Management Staff. When she entered the Senior Executive Service in 1996, she was assigned as the Associate Director for Production in the Geospatial Information and Services Office. During this four-year period, she programmed and executed resources for a 3,600-person production organization.

Ms. Roberts was born in Manhattan, New York. She was graduated from Morgan State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics in 1978. She also holds a Master of Science degree in National Resource Strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces at the National Defense University (1995).She is married to LJ Roberts and has one adult daughter, Valerie Bell Butler. Ms. Roberts is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta, incorporated, Sussex County Alumnae Chapter.

WHAT ACTIVITIES WERE YOU INVOLVED IN WHILE AT MORGAN?

1. President of the Math Club 1977 and 1978. Although we were not very active. But we had a group of about 8 people who came together to talk about classes and our Senior Seminar topics. The department was very small.
2. I was in the Marching Band 1974, 1975 as Pom, Pom Girls. 1976, 1977 as Captain of Flag twirlers.
3. Delta Sigma There Sorority Inc. 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978. I am active in the sorority in my community today.
4. I also received good work experience in the Work Study program. Worked my way through school as a receptionist and event planning for the ballroom.

WHAT WAS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE WHILE AT MORGAN?

1. While in the Marching Band, we participated in annual parade through Harlem New York the weekend of the Morgan Grambling football games. I took pride in being part of an HBCU marching in NYC. My family came to see me in the parade.
2. While working in the Student Union building, I had an opportunity to sit with Actress Ruby Dee after she gave a presentation. I spent about 15 minutes with her. She so nice. I was happy that someone so famous took the time to be with us.
3. My father shed a tear at my graduation. I was the first family member (and only one of six kids) to graduate from college.

WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE YOU'D GIVE TO STUDENTS?

1. I had fun in college although I wish I had focused my grades a little better. I did ok but I had the potential to do even better.
2. I majored in math because I was good with numbers but did not have enough insight on how I could apply myself after college. After I was at Defense Mapping Agency a couple of years I became a Photogrammetrist. I was fortunate to get a chance to use math.
3. If you can afford to go to graduate school after graduation, it is good to get the education out of the way before starting a family and to be more competitive in the workforce.
4. Leadership skills balanced with teamwork are important through life.