Dorothy McCoy facts for kids

Dorothy McCoy (born August 9, 1903, died November 21, 2001) was an amazing American mathematician and university professor. She made history by becoming the first woman to earn a special advanced degree, called a doctorate, in math from the University of Iowa. For many years, she taught math at Belhaven College and Wayland Baptist College.

Early Life and Education

Dorothy McCoy was born on August 9, 1903, in Waukomis, Oklahoma. Her family lived on a homestead, which is a piece of land given by the government to be farmed. In 1906, after her father passed away, her family moved to Chesapeake, Missouri.

Dorothy went to Baylor University in Texas and earned her first degree, a bachelor's degree, with high honors. After teaching math for a year, she went on to get her doctorate in mathematics. She earned this advanced degree from the University of Iowa in 1929. Her special research paper for her doctorate was about complex math ideas.

Interestingly, Dorothy earned her degrees at the same time as her younger brother, Neal. He also became a math professor. Dorothy was the very first woman to earn a math doctorate at the University of Iowa. She was also one of only four women to achieve this before 1960.

Career and Achievements

In 1929, Dorothy McCoy became a professor and the head of the math department at Belhaven College in Mississippi. She also led the Louisiana–Mississippi Section of the Mathematical Association of America in 1937 and 1938.

In 1949, she moved to Wayland Baptist College. There, she became a math professor and led the science departments. In 1954, she was chosen as a Fulbright Scholar. This meant she got to travel to Iraq to study and teach. She later visited many other countries for her work. She also helped the U.S. government with its missile defense program.

Dorothy retired in 1975 as a "distinguished professor emerita." This special title meant she was highly respected and honored by the university. She was the only faculty member to receive both "emeritus" and "distinguished" titles. She passed away on November 21, 2001.

Recognition and Legacy

Dorothy McCoy received many honors for her important work. In 1999, the Wayland Baptist Association of Former Students gave her their Distinguished Lifetime Service Award. This award recognized her amazing contributions over her life.

In 2001, Wayland Baptist University named a student dorm in her honor. They also display a special statue, called a bust, of her in one of their buildings. This shows how much they valued her.

Two pictures of Dorothy McCoy are kept in the collection of the National Museum of American History. These photos are part of a group that highlights women who earned doctorates in mathematics.