Professor Art Schwartz retires after 52 years of service

Professor Arthur “Art” Schwartz, one of Mercer’s longest-serving professors, retired on January 1, 2021, after 52 years of service in the Math department. 

Professor Schwartz, who started at MCCC in 1969, attended Trenton High School, then completed his bachelor’s degree in Mathematics at Trenton State College in 1966. He went on to earn his master’s in Radiation Science at Rutgers University in 1968 then received a second master’s in Mathematics from The College of New Jersey in 1972.

“I’m a Trenton boy.” Professor Schwartz says. “When I say Trenton, you notice, we only have one ‘T’ in there!”

He says his hero is his older brother Frank who was also going into math as a profession. 

“He was my mentor,” Schwartz says, adding, “He taught me how to throw a football and he told me how to do different things.”

Professor Schwartz followed in his brother’s footsteps and then Frank decided to switch from teaching to a career in Computer Science.

“He wanted me to go with him and make some big money, and I said ‘no Frank I’m happy where I’m at.’” Professor Schwartz says. 

Professor Schwartz started at Mercer as an adjunct instructor but was later hired as a full-time professor. Eventually, he went on to be the Chair of the Mathematics department. 

Professor Betty Peterson, the current Chair of Mathematics at Mercer, says, “He was a leader in caring. He went above and beyond to be able to reach out to students through their math classes.”

Jerry Katty, says he  first met Professor Schwartz as a substitute teacher in his pre-algebra class.

“He did it in a different way than our professor was doing it. He showed like three other different ways to do it and that basically changed my whole perspective on mathematics,” Katty says, adding, “It’s literally because of him that I became a Math major.” 

Daniel Kofi Adomina, a Business Administration who took precalculus with Professor Schwartz says, “He made it easy for us to be able to go to him. You know, get help when we needed to, and invest in our future.”

Professor Schwartz says, “That’s why I love teaching, It’s to help people be better thinkers and make them feel better and do good in life.”

Throughout his years at Mercer, Professor Schwartz has been recognized for many achievements. In 1991 Professor Schwartz won Mercer’s Distinguished Teacher Award. In 2004 the Mathematical Association of America chose him to receive the Distinguished College or University Teaching of Mathematics Award.

One of his most notable roles outside the classroom was serving as the MCCC Faculty Association President for many years.

Retired Professor of English and former Dean of Liberal Arts Robin Schore, who served MCCC for 43 years, says, “In the 1970s, [Art] transformed the faculty union from an ineffectual body to the strongest organization on campus serving as both president and, for many years, as chief negotiator. He was known in union circles throughout the state as ‘the dean of negotiators.’”

Schore added, “He embodied the remarkable combination of street-wise tough guy and serious academic, qualities which served him well both in the classroom and at the negotiating table.”

Math Professor Dan Rose, says, “I can’t think of anyone who has instilled a greater sense of comfort and warmth.” He adds, “[Art] was there for me and [he] cared about me as an employee of this college.”

“He will definitely be missed,” says Professor Peterson.

Going forward, Schwartz says he looks forward to indulging in his hobbies, playing chess and golf, and traveling more. What he is looking forward to most is spending time with family.

Schwartz is even considering remaining part of the Mercer County Community College family by teaching or tutoring at the James Kerney Campus in downtown Trenton, New Jersey.

Professor Schwartz says of his career, “What I would like to be remembered by if anything, outside my family, is teaching. That was my love and that is my love.”