Carolyn Mahoney facts for kids

Carolyn Ray Boone Mahoney was born in 1946. She is an American mathematician. She also served as the president of Lincoln University of Missouri. Her math studies included combinatorics, graph theory, and matroids.

Growing Up and School

Early Life in Memphis

Carolyn Mahoney was born in 1946 in Memphis, Tennessee. She was the sixth of thirteen children. Her grandmother helped care for the children. Carolyn's mother worked hard to support the family.

Finding a Love for Math

Carolyn went to Catholic schools. The nuns there encouraged her to explore her interest in mathematics. She was known for being smart in her neighborhood. Carolyn graduated from Father Bertrand High School in 1964.

College and Advanced Degrees

Carolyn started college at Mount St. Scholastica College. She then finished her math degree at Siena College in 1970. She continued her studies at Ohio State University. There, she earned her master's degree in mathematics in 1972. She later earned her doctorate (Ph.D.) in 1983. Her advanced studies focused on matroid theory. Carolyn Mahoney was the 25th Black woman to earn a Ph.D. in mathematics in the U.S.

A Career in Education

Teaching and Leadership Roles

After getting her doctorate, Dr. Mahoney taught at Denison University. She also taught at Ohio State for two years. From 1986 to 1989, she helped create tests for the College Board.

In 1989, Dr. Mahoney made history. She was the first mathematician chosen to teach at California State University San Marcos. She was one of the first twelve teachers at this new campus.

Working for Science and Universities

Dr. Mahoney also worked at the National Science Foundation. This organization helps fund scientific research. Later, she became an administrator at Elizabeth City State University in North Carolina.

Leading Lincoln University

In 2005, Dr. Mahoney became the president of Lincoln University of Missouri. She led the university until she retired in 2012.

Her Work in Mathematics

Solving Math Problems

Dr. Mahoney's research focused on challenging problems in graph theory and combinatorics. These are areas of mathematics that study networks and arrangements. She also published work on the Hadwiger–Nelson problem. This problem is about coloring points on a graph.

Supporting Diversity in Math

Dr. Mahoney believes it has been hard for her to find research partners. This is because she is a Black woman in mathematics. She strongly supports making education better for everyone. She especially wants to see more cultural diversity among university teachers. She feels that groups like the Mathematical Association of America and the Association for Women in Mathematics have helped women in math.

Awards and Recognition

Honors and Achievements

In 1989, Dr. Mahoney was honored. She was inducted into the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame. This award recognizes important women from Ohio.

Named in Her Honor

A scholarship at CSU San Marcos is named after her. Also, a walking trail at Lincoln University is named in her honor.

In 2018, Dr. Mahoney was recognized by Mathematically Gifted & Black. She was honored during Black History Month for her contributions.