Ruthmae Sears

Dr. Ruthmae Sears has an Associate of Arts in Mathematics and Statistics, and a Bachelors of Education in Secondary Mathematics from the College of the Bahamas. Additionally she obtained a Master’s degree from Indiana University in Mathematics Education, and a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Missouri- Columbia. While in The Bahamas, Dr. Sears taught mathematics at C.R. Walker Senior High School. She also served as a member of the Bahamas National Science Council, an Advisor for the National Teacher Cadet Program,  and a Board Member for the Pace Foundation.

Dr. Sears was a recipient of the Bahamas Government Teachers Grant, Organization of American States Fellowship Award, Lyford Cay Foundation Graduate Scholarship Award, Kappa Delta Pi Hollis Caswell Doctoral Award, Center for The Study of Mathematics Curriculum (CSMC) Fellowship Award, the University of Missouri Mathematics Education Scholarship Award, and The University of Michigan Geometry Reasoning and Instructional Practice (GRIP) Scholarship Award. 

Dr. Sears was initially appointed an Assistant professor  at the University of South Florida in 2012.   Recently, in 2018, she received tenure and promotion to the rank of an Associate Professor at the university. Her research focuses  on curriculum issues, reasoning and proof and technology.  Moreover,  she coordinates developmental mathematics courses and the master’s degree program in mathematics education. Dr. Sears is the principal investigator for the NSF-IUSE funded  collaborative grant entitled "Attaining Excellence in Secondary Mathematics Clinical Experiences with a Lens on Equity". Dr. Sears is also a co-principal investigator for the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program. Additionally, she is the Tampa Bay representative for the Mathematics Teacher Education Partnership, Florida Department of Education – State Course Numbering System  (SCNS) Discipline Coordinator in the field of Mathematics Education, a member of The University of South Florida STEER Transformation Implementation Leadership Team (TILT), and the board member from Public Institution  for the  Florida Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators .

Dr. Sears was the 2016 Florida Association of Mathematics Teacher Educator (FAMTE) - Mathematics Teacher Educator of the Year.  She is also the 2018 USF  Chapter of National Council of Negro Women – Katherine Johnson Mathematics Award Recipient.    She was also the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Mid Missouri Heroes award, and the VEX robotics volunteer of the year recipient. She currently volunteers with the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay.