His next move, which Roth refers to his “southern” period, brought him to Duke University where he both taught classes and received a Doctorate in Mathematics. While writing his doctoral thesis, he continued to create art and in 1963 William Lieberman, curator of drawing at the Museum of Modern Art recommended to the periodical Art in America that they name Roth the new talent graphic artist. Also at this time, MoMA purchased several works from Roth for the museum’s permanent collection. In need for money Roth turned back to his degree where he worked, albeit for short periods of time at the University of Kentucky at Lexington and the University of Southern Florida before moving back north to Montclair, New Jersey. He was hired as the chairman of the Mathematics department at Upsala College. His employment there lasted for five years before as he was fired for “making waves”. He found a new position at the recently opened Ramapo College in 1971 teaching both Mathematics and advanced painting. After he received tenure and his finances were secure, his artistic production thrived as he received the first Thomases Award for contributions at the school and was given a studio to work in. The space allowed him to work with larger canvases and become what he saw as an Abstract Expressionist Colorfield painter. In 1978 the acclaimed gallery, Knoedler & Co. in New York City began their representation of Jack Roth’s work. At this time Knoedler & Co. represented Alexander Calder, Adolf Gottlieb, Franz Kline, Robert Motherwell, Frank Stella, David Smith, Nancy Graves and Michael Goldberg. In 1979 he was rewarded with the prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship, and in the following two decades, Roth continued to balance his two loves, teaching and creating art.