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AMHERST, N.Y. – Dr. James Ricci, assistant professor of mathematics at ˿����Ƶ College, has been awarded the prestigious 2018-19 Congressional Fellowship from the American Mathematical Society, making him the first ˿����Ƶ faculty member to earn this national honor.      

The highly selective fellowship, which is awarded to only one recipient per year, is administered by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. The fellowship program is designed to provide a unique public policy learning experience, to demonstrate the value of science-government interaction, and to bring a technical background and external perspective to the decision-making process in Congress.        

“I am deeply honored to be selected as this year’s Congressional Fellow,” said Ricci. “This program is a wonderful opportunity for me to offer my expertise as a mathematician to the legislative process and to learn about public policy on a national level.”          

As a Congressional Fellow, Ricci will spend a year working on the staff of a member of Congress or a congressional committee as a special legislative assistant in policy areas requiring scientific and technical input. The fellowship includes an orientation on congressional and executive branch operations and a year-long professional development program.

Ricci earned a doctorate in mathematics from Wesleyan University and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and computer science from Vassar College.        

He resides in Buffalo.