ScienceMakers Toolkit Manual - The History Makers

In 1993, Massey was appointed Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs for the University of California
system. In 1995, Massey returned to Morehouse College, where he served as the college’s president.
Massey also held physics professorships at numerous universities, including the University of Illinois, Brown
University, and the University of Chicago.
Along with distinguishing himself as an educator, Massey had a long-standing relationship with Argonne
National Laboratory, where he served as Vice President for Research (1984-1991) and as the Founding Chairman
of the University of Chicago Development Corporation (1986-1991). In 1991, Massey was appointed
Director of the National Science Foundation, where he served until 1993. Massey’s career illuminates a commitment
to diversity and expanding opportunities for minorities in the sciences.
In recognition of his many accomplishments, Massey was awarded over twenty honorary doctorates and
numerous awards for excellence in teaching. In addition, Massey remained active in several professional
organizations, including the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Association for the
Advancement of Science. Massey maintained a commitment to service through his affi liation with a number
of civic, cultural and community organizations. Massey and his wife, Shirley Anne, raised two sons: Keith and
Eric.
Discussion Questions
Personal:
1. What did you like best about listening to Dr. Massey?
2. Where was Dr. Massey born? Locate it on a map. How far away is this from where you live? What are
the names of his parents? Where did Dr. Massey attend high school? What do you suppose high school
was like for him?
3. How old are you? In what year was Dr. Massey your age? What was happening in the country that year?
What was happening in the world that year? What do you suppose his life was like when he was your
age?
4. What kind of a student was Dr. Massey? What did this have to do with how smart he was? Was school
diffi cult for him? How about you? Is school diffi cult for you? If so, have you talked with someone about
this? How does your teacher or your parents help make it easier? If not, do your grades refl ect this? Why
or why not? (See Clip #1)
5. Why did Dr. Massey like arithmetic and mathematics as a boy? What is it that absorbs you, that you
could spend hours fi guring out? What could you do with this interest in the future? (See Clip #1)
6. How did Dr. Massey come to be at Morehouse College? How did his father initially feel about this
opportunity? What made him change his mind? What do you think it would be like to start college at
16? Have does you discussed your future with your parents? How could they help you fi nd
opportunities? Besides parents, is there anyone else who could help you take advantage of
opportunities? How? (See Clip #2)
7. Dr. Massey talks about being intimidated by the students at Morehouse when he fi rst arrived. Why was
he intimidated? How did his placement test change his opinion of himself? What does Dr. Massey say
is the difference between being ignorant and being dumb? Have you ever felt “defi ned” by a grade? If
so, was it a good thing? Why or why not? Is there a story beyond grades? How do you defi ne yourself?
Is it possible to change? How did Dr. Massey change? What can you take from his story? (See Clip #3)
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Physics