FAMU is grieving the death of Osiefield Anderson, Ph.D. a revered former mathematics professor whose unwavering dedication to students and signature blend of rigor, wit, and tough love left an indelible mark on generations of Rattlers. He was 97.
Anderson, taught at FAMU for over five decades, remained a fixture in his Jackson Davis Hall office until just a few years ago, holding regular office hours to tutor students and dispense wisdom—often with a trademark red pen in hand.
Former students, colleagues, and alumni flooded social media with tributes yesterday (Sunday), remembering a mentor who demanded excellence but paired his blunt critiques with boundless support.
“He told my entire class we were ‘sorry’—as in, not academically prepared—and that we didn’t belong within 50 feet of a college campus,” recalled one former student on X (formerly Twitter). “But then he spent every afternoon that semester teaching us how to belong. How to fight for our place here. That was Dr. Anderson.”
He often told students would didn't want to work "I'll withdraw you!" (from my class).
Janella Hayes, a 2014 FAMU MBA graduate, described him as “notorious” for covering assignments in crimson-inked “annotations” and offering extra credit to help students claw their way back from failing grades. “His only goal was to pour into us until we understood,” Hayes said. “He wasted no words. No breath. We honestly laughed a lot in the process, even when he was kicking our butts.”
Beyond calculus and equations, Anderson shared life lessons with those who sought his guidance, urging them to embrace resilience. Former students noted his pride in his son, Gregory Anderson—a Hollywood filmmaker/screenwriter--- whom he often cited as proof that “discipline and high standards pay off.”
"His word of wisdom will be missed," wrote Joe Briggs, Esq, a former student.
Former colleagues praised Anderson’s “unmatched legacy of service,” stating, “He didn’t just teach math; he taught students how to think, how to persevere, and how to hold themselves accountable. That impact transcends generations.”
While the university community mourns his passing, Anderson’s influence endures in classrooms where his methods live on through colleagues he mentored—and in alumni who still hear his voice during life’s challenges. As Hayes put it: “He’s the reason I don’t quit. Ever.”
A public memorial service will be announced at a later date.