Walter E. Massey

Born on 5 April 1938 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Walter E. Massey is a physicist and educator who was the first African American to become director of Argonne National Laboratory . Massey earned his BS in physics in 1958 at Morehouse College and his PhD in 1966 at Washington University in St Louis. Over his professional career he held a number of academic and administrative positions. In 1970 he became the first African American professor of physics at Brown University . Besides his posts at Brown and Argonne, Massey served as vice president of research at the University of Chicago, director of NSF , dean of the college at Brown University, provost and vice president of academic affairs for the University of California, president of Morehouse College, and president and chancellor of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Much of his research has centered on quantum liquids and solids and many-body theory; he has also studied the attenuation and velocity of sound in liquid helium at low temperatures. While at Brown, Massey became interested in attracting more minority students to the sciences and founded the Inner City Teachers of Science Program. He also entered the political sphere, having served on the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology during both Bush administrations. (Photo credit: AIP Emilio Segrè Visual Archives, Gift of Dr. Massey)

Date in History: 5 April 1938