Alfred Posamentier

Alfred S. Posamentier is Currently Executive Director for Internationalization and Funded Programs at Long Island University, New York. Previously, he was Dean of the School of Education and Professor of Mathematics Education at Mercy College, New York, and prior to that he was Distinguished Lecturer at New York City College of Technology of the City University of New York. He is Professor Emeritus of Mathematics Education at The City College of the City University of New York, and Dean Emeritus of the School of Education, where he was for 40 years. He is the author and co-author of more than 60 mathematics books for teachers, secondary and elementary school students, and the general readership. Dr. Posamentier is also a frequent commentator in newspapers and journals on topics relating to education.

After completing his B.A. degree in mathematics at Hunter College of the City University of New York, he took a position as a teacher of mathematics at Theodore Roosevelt High School (Bronx, New York), where he focused his attention on improving the students' problem-solving skills and at the same time enriching their instruction far beyond what the traditional textbooks offered. During his six-year tenure there, he also developed the school's first mathematics teams (both at the junior and senior level). He is still involved in working with mathematics teachers and supervisors, nationally and internationally, to help them maximize their effectiveness.

Immediately upon joining the faculty of the City College in 1970 (after having received his master's degree there in 1966), he began to develop inservice courses for secondary school mathematics teachers, including such special areas as recreational mathematics and problem solving in mathematics. As Dean of the City College School of Education for 10 years, his scope of interest in educational issues covered the full gamut educational issues. During his tenure as dean he took the School from the bottom of the New York State rankings to the top with a perfect NCATE accreditation assessment in 2009.

In 1973, Dr. Posamentier received his Ph.D. from Fordham University (New York) in mathematics education and has since extended his reputation in mathematics education to Europe. He has been visiting professor at several European universities in Austria, England, Germany, Czech Republic, and Poland, while at the University of Vienna he was Fulbright Professor (1990).

In 1989 he was awarded an Honorary Fellow at the South Bank University (London, England). In recognition of his outstanding teaching, the City College Alumni Association named him Educator of the Year in 1994, and in 2009. New York City had the day, May 1, 1994, named in his honor by the President of the New York City Council. In 1994, he was also awarded the Grand Medal of Honor from the Republic of Austria, and in 1999, upon approval of Parliament, the President of the Republic of Austria awarded him the title of University Professor of Austria. In 2003 he was awarded the title of Ehrenburger (Honorary Fellow) of the Vienna University of Technology, and in 2004 was awarded the Austrian Cross of Honor for Arts and Science, First Class from the President of the Republic of Austria. In 2005 he was inducted into the Hunter College Alumni Hall of Fame, and in 2006 he was awarded the prestigious Townsend Harris Medal by the City College Alumni Association. He was inducted into the New York State Mathematics Educator's Hall of Fame in 2009, and in 2010 he was awarded the coveted Christian-Peter-Beuth Prize in Berlin.

He has taken on numerous important leadership positions in mathematics education locally. He was a member of the New York State Education Commissioner's Blue Ribbon Panel on the Math-A Regents Exams, and the Commissioner's Mathematics Standards Committee, which redefined the Standards for New York State, and he also served on the New York City schools' Chancellor's Math Advisory Panel.

Dr. Posamentier is still a leading commentator on educational issues and continues his long time passion of seeking ways to make mathematics interesting to both teachers, students and the general public - as can be seen from some of his more recent books, The Joy of Mathematics (Prometheus Books, 2017), Strategy Games to Enhance Problem – Solving Ability in Mathematics (World Scientific Publishing, 2017), The Circle: A Mathematical Exploration Beyond the Line (Prometheus Books, 2016), Effective Techniques to Motivate Mathematics Instruction, 2nd Ed. (Routledge, 2016), Problem – Solving Strategies in Mathematics (World Scientific Publishing, 2015) Numbers: There Tales, Types, and Treasures (Prometheus Books , 2015), Mathematical Curiosities (Prometheus Books , 2014), Magnificent Mistakes in Mathematics (Prometheus Books, 2013), 100 Commonly Asked Questions in Math Class: Answers that Promote Mathematical Understanding, Grades 6-12 (Corwin, 2013), What Successful Math Teachers do - Grades 6-12 (Corwin, 2013), The Secrets of Triangles: A Mathematical Journey (Prometheus Books, 2012), The Glorious Golden Ratio (Prometheus Books, 2012), The Art of Motivating Students for Mathematics Instruction (McGraw-Hill, 2011), The Pythagorean Theorem : Its Power and Glory (Prometheus, 2010), Teaching Secondary Mathematics: Techniques and Enrichment Units, 8th Ed. (Pearson/Allyn&Bacon, 2010), Mathematical Amazements and Surprises: Fascinating Figures and Noteworthy Numbers (Prometheus, 2009), Problem Solving in Mathematics: Grades 3-6: Powerful Strategies to Deepen Understanding (Corwin, 2009), Problem-Solving Strategies for Efficient and Elegant Solutions, Grades 6-12 (Corwin, 2008), The Fabulous Fibonacci Numbers (Prometheus Books, 2007), Progress in Mathematics K-9 textbook series (Sadlier-Oxford, 2006-2009), What successful Math Teacher Do: Grades 6-12 (Corwin 2006), What successful Math Teacher Do: Grades K-5 (Corwin 2007), Exemplary Practices for Secondary Math Teachers (ASCD, 2007), 101+ Great Ideas to Introduce Key Concepts in Mathematics (Corwin, 2006), ?, A Biography of the World's Most Mysterious Number (Prometheus Books, 2004), Math Wonders: To Inspire Teachers and Students (ASCD, 2003), and Math Charmers: Tantalizing Tidbits for the Mind (Prometheus Books, 2003).