Pierce, Joseph A. (Joseph Alphonso), 1902-1969
Biographical Statement
Dr. Joseph Pierce: mathematician and educator.
Joseph Alphonso Pierce was born in Waycross, Georgia on August 10, 1902. He received his education from Georgia's public schools and continued his education following graduation, attaining an undergraduate degree in social science from Atlanta University and a doctorate degree in mathematics from the University of Michigan. He served as a professor of mathematics at Texas College in Tyler, Texas and at Wiley College in Marshall, Texas. He was also chairman of the department of mathematics at Atlanta University in Georgia, and the College of the Virgin Islands. In 1948, he was appointed Chairman of the Division of Natural and Physical Science and the Head of the Mathematics Department at Texas Southern University (TSU) in Houston. In 1952, he became the dean of the graduate school where he served until 1966. During that time, he was also appointed Director of Summer School at TSU. On August 10, 1967, he was elected as the third president of Texas Southern—one year after being elected acting president. He served for two weeks before he retired.
In addition to his academic duties, Dr. Pierce served as liaison between TSU and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Manned Spacecraft Center during the early days of the space program in 1963. In 1967, he also began serving as a consultant for NASA. Pierce authored two books, Negro Business and Business Education (1947) and Introductory Mathematics and Applications (1937).
Dr. Pierce was a member of Sigma Xi, Beta Kappa Chi, and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. He was also a member of the Institute of Mathematical Statistics, the American Statistical Association, the National Institute of Science, the Texas State Teachers Association, and the National Education Association.
He was married to Dr. Juanita G. Pierce and had one son. Dr. Pierce died in San Antonio, Texas on September 18, 1969.