Freeman A. Hrabowski III

I began to understand the challenges that first-generation college students and students of color have in college.

I wanted to find ways for colleges and universities to become involved with public schools to help young people prepare for college.

There is something exciting about being in an environment in which it's really cool to be smart.

In life sciences, we find a reasonable balance between men and women. In engineering and computer science, we have a major problem. A very small percentage of women will be in computer science.

It is exciting to work with students thinking about issues of the day, from closing the achievement gap to finding a cure for cancer.

Computer games tend to be boys' games, warlike games with more violence. We have not spent enough time thinking through how to encourage more girls to be involved in computing before coming to college so they can see a possible career in information technology.

It is part of the work of education to have substantive relationships with your students.

Rich kids work hard. Most black kids aren't working hard enough.

My mother was an English teacher who decided to become a math teacher, and she used me as a guinea pig at home. My father had been a math teacher and then went to work at a steel mill because, frankly, he could make more money doing that.

I guarantee the people who study are going to be successful. Nothing can replace hard work.