Erika Camacho facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Erika Camacho
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Erika Tatiana Camacho
September 3, 1974 Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
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| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Cornell University Wellesley College |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Mathematical Biology Applied mathematics |
| Institutions | University of Texas at San Antonio Arizona State University Loyola Marymount University Los Alamos National Laboratory Cal Poly Pomona Cornell University |
| Thesis | Mathematical Models of Retinal Dynamics |
| Doctoral advisor | Richard H. Rand |
Erika Tatiana Camacho is a brilliant scientist who studies math and biology. She is a professor of mathematics at the University of Texas at San Antonio. In 2014, she received a special award called the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM). This award recognized her amazing work helping young people learn about science and math. When she was in high school, she was taught by a famous teacher named Jaime Escalante. His story was even made into a movie called Stand and Deliver.
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Erika Camacho's Early Life and Education
Erika Camacho was born on September 3, 1974, in Guadalajara, Mexico. She went to Garfield High School from 1990 to 1993. There, she was taught by the inspiring teacher Jaime Escalante. Erika was the first person in her family to graduate from high school. She was also the first in her family to go to college.
College and Advanced Studies
After high school, Erika went to Wellesley College. She graduated with honors in 1997. She earned two Bachelor of Arts degrees, one in mathematics and one in economics. Later, she continued her studies at Cornell University. In 2003, she earned her PhD in applied mathematics. Her research focused on how math can explain how our eyes work. She studied "mathematical models of retinal dynamics." She also earned a Master of Science degree in Applied Mathematics from Cornell University.
Erika Camacho's Career Journey
After finishing her PhD, Dr. Camacho worked for a year at Los Alamos National Laboratory. This is a famous science lab. In 2004, she became a professor at Loyola Marymount University. She joined the Department of Mathematics there.
Helping Students in STEM
Dr. Camacho helped start a special summer program for college students. It was called the Applied Mathematical Sciences Summer Research Institute (AMSSI). This program ran from 2005 to 2007. It helped students get hands-on experience in math and science research. The program received support from the National Science Foundation and the National Security Agency. Her own research looks at how math can explain how light-sensing cells in our eyes, called photoreceptors, work.
Teaching and Leadership Roles
In 2007, Dr. Camacho moved to Arizona State University. She worked there as a professor of applied mathematics. From 2013 to 2014, she was a visiting scholar at MIT. This is another very famous university. She has also served on many important national groups. These include the Council of the American Mathematical Society (AMS). She was also on the board of SACNAS. She was an AMS Council member from 2018 to 2020.
Work at the National Science Foundation
In September 2019, Dr. Camacho started a three-year role at the National Science Foundation (NSF). She helped lead the HSI Program. She also worked with the ADVANCE Program. She was a Program Director for the Racial Equity in STEM Program. In 2022, she and her team won an award for creating this program. It helps make science and math fair for everyone.
Recent Work and Advocacy
In January 2023, Dr. Camacho became a Fulbright Scholar. She worked at the Institut de la Vision in Paris, France. In August 2023, she announced her move to the University of Texas at San Antonio. She is a strong supporter of making science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) welcoming for everyone.
Awards and Recognitions for Erika Camacho
Dr. Camacho has received many awards for her work. These awards recognize her research and her dedication to helping students.
Major Mentoring and Education Awards
- In 2019, she received the Mentor Award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
- In 2014, she won the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM). This was for her research with and mentoring of college students.
- In 2023, she received the M. Gweneth Humphreys Award. This award honors math teachers who are excellent mentors.
- In 2020, she received the Louise Hay Award for Mathematics Education. Both of these awards came from the Association for Women in Mathematics.
Other Notable Awards
- She won the 2020 SACNAS Presidential Service Award.
- In 2018, she received the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE) Outstanding Latino/a Faculty Award.
- She also received the 2017 HENAAC Education Award.
- In 2012, she won the SACNAS Distinguished Undergraduate Institution Mentor Award.
- In 2011, she received the Hispanic Women's Corporation National Latina Leadership Award.
Fellowships and Honors
Dr. Camacho was chosen as a Fellow of the Association for Women in Mathematics in 2024. This was for her leadership in helping women and other groups in math. She creates opportunities and supports diversity in STEM. She was also elected as a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society in the 2024 class of fellows.
