From my life’s experience as a scientist, physician, teacher and parent, I know how important inspirational teachers are for young students of mathematics and sciences. They can make all the difference in the future lives and careers of our children, their happiness and their abilities to contribute to our society. I am delighted and honored to be working with the leaders of the Knowles Teacher Initiative on the Board of Directors in support of the scores of present and future Knowles Teaching Fellows whose lives and careers they so directly support.”
Steve Emerson graduated from Haverford College in 1974 with a B.A. in philosophy and chemistry. He earned an M.S. in molecular biophysics, a Ph.D. in cell biology and immunology, and an M.D from Yale University. Additionally, he completed postdoctoral research at Harvard University. Steve served on the faculties of University of Michigan and Harvard University before joining the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania, where he held the Francis C. Wood Professorship in Medicine, Pathology and Pediatrics; served as Chief of Hematology/Oncology and as Associate Director for Clinical/Translational Research of the Abramson Center; and organized Penn’s first Institute for Stem Cell Biology. Steve was recruited from Penn to serve his alma mater, Haverford College, as president in 2007. Following his presidency at Haverford, Steve returned to work in biomedical education, research and clinical care as Director of the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center. Steve’s work in teaching and research has been honored numerous times over the years—he is the recipient of the Stohlman Award of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, the Bai-Yu Lan Prize of the City of Shanghai, the Rolex Career Achievement Award and the French Legion of Honor. Steve retired from biomedicine in 2017 as Professor Emeritus at Columbia University, and has since pursued a lifetime passion of combining his educational energies with his love of mathematics. Since 2017, Steve has taught and tutored middle and high school students in mathematics at Friends Central School in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. He was elected to the Knowles Board of Trustees in May 2022.