Robert M. Fossum Honored for Excellence in Mathematics

    CHETEK, WI, December 08, 2021 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Robert M. Fossum has been included in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

In an accomplished career that spanned more than 40 years, Robert M. Fossum dedicated himself to education—both as an instructor of mathematics and related subjects, and as a gifted student himself, always on a quest for knowledge. In addition, he has governed numerous volunteer organizations and infused every area of his life with his communication skills, attention to detail, expertise across many topics, and passion for sharing what he's learned.

A Minnesota native, Dr. Fossum gravitated toward his profession from a young age as his mother, Tina Otelia, taught junior high school mathematics. His father, Inge Martin, managed a bookstore at St. Olaf College, a private liberal arts school in the city of Northfield, where his uncle was also head of the physics department. Due to his personal connections to the college, excellent grades, and an early decision about his future, he was encouraged by his mother to attend St. Olaf after eleventh grade—and so he did, and ultimately graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1959. While at the school, he was a member of its Minnesota Farmer Labor Young People's Board, an experience that informed much of his later interest in cause-driven organizations. He subsequently furthered his education at the University of Michigan, earning a Master of Arts and then a Doctor of Philosophy in 1961 and 1965, respectfully. He was later awarded a Fulbright Fellowship from the University of Oslo in 1967.

In the midst of earning his PhD, Dr. Fossum had launched his career at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he would spend the next four decades. He began as an instructor of mathematics in 1964, before advancing to the roles of assistant professor between 1966 and 1968 and associate professor from 1968 to 1972. He served as a full professor at the university from 1972 to 2008, taught electronics and computer engineering as well between 2003 and 2008, and concurrently found success as a professor at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, a unit of the University of Illinois geared toward interdisciplinary research, from 2000 to 2008. Upon his retirement from the education field in 2008, he was honored as a Professor Emeritus—and then focused his attention on Tronderlag of America, an organization made up of descendants of emigrants from the Trondelag region of Norway, for which he excelled as president for five years.

Outside of his primary positions over the course of his career, Dr. Fossum lent his knowledge to other countries, serving as a visiting professor for the University of Oslo in Norway in the late 1960s and Pierre and Marie Curie University in Paris from 1978 to 1979; in addition, he also lectured at Denmark's Aarhus University from 1971 to 1973 and Copenhagen University from 1976 to 1977. A secretary for the American Mathematical Society for 10 years, he proudly served as a fellow for that group as well as for the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters. Additionally, he has been a longtime affiliate of IEEE, the Norwegian American Genealogical Center & Naeseth Library—for which he serves as an advisory committee member—Sons of Norway, Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Study, Institute for Algebraic Meditation, Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, Association for Computing Machinery, and the Norse Federation. Dr. Fossum has also contributed many articles on the subjects he loves to professional journals and publications in his field.

The recipient of several accolades, including "Best Mathematics" at the Minnesota State Fair and an Alumni Achievement Award from St. Olaf College, Dr. Fossum advised that those who wish to succeed in academia should possess "curiosity in many things… [and be] fully engaged in what you are doing and do it at the best of your ability." In retirement, he enjoys listening to classical music, woodworking, staying informed on what's happening in the world, from the COVID vaccines to racial issues, and spending time with his wife and family—which includes four children and seven grandchildren.

About Marquis Who's Who®
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Today, Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis® now publishes many Who's Who titles, including Who's Who in America®, Who's Who in the World®, Who's Who in American Law®, Who's Who in Medicine and Healthcare®, Who's Who in Science and Engineering®, and Who's Who in Asia®. Marquis® publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who's Who® website at www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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