Evelynn M. Hammonds facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Evelynn M. Hammonds
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Hammonds in 2017
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| Born | January 2, 1953 Atlanta, Georgia, US
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| Education | Harvard University Massachusetts Institute of Technology Spelman College Georgia Institute of Technology |
| Occupation | Professor, scholar |
| Title | Barbara Gutmann Rosenkrantz Professor of the History of Science and Professor of African and African-American Studies |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | Harvard University |
Evelynn Maxine Hammonds (born in 1953) is an American scholar and feminist. She is a professor at Harvard University. There, she teaches about the History of Science and African and African-American Studies. She was also the Dean of Harvard College.
Her work often looks at how race, gender, science, and medicine are connected. Before becoming a professor, she studied engineering and physics. She also worked as a computer programmer. In 2008, she made history as the first African-American woman to lead Harvard College as its dean. She returned to teaching full-time in 2013.
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Early Life and Education
Evelynn Hammonds was born in Atlanta, Georgia on January 2, 1953. Her mother was a teacher, and her father worked for the postal service. Her father wanted to be an engineer but could not attend the local engineering school because of segregation.
Evelynn became interested in history and science when she was young. Her parents encouraged this interest. Her high school years were challenging due to school integration and discrimination. She had to switch schools several times before finishing at Southwest High School.
College Years and Early Career
As a top student, Hammonds received a National Merit Scholarship. She went to Spelman College. There, she joined a special engineering program with Georgia Institute of Technology. In 1976, she earned degrees in Physics and Electrical Engineering from both universities.
During her summers, she worked at Bell Labs. This was through a program that helped minority students in science. She learned a lot about "big science" and even had her first work published. She met other inspiring scientists, including Shirley Ann Jackson. Jackson was the first Black woman physicist Hammonds had ever met. This inspired Hammonds to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Hammonds started a PhD program at MIT but left in 1980 with a master's degree in physics. She then worked as a software engineer for five years. She found the work unchallenging and decided to return to school. In 1993, she earned her PhD in the History of Science from Harvard University.
Career and Research
After getting her PhD, Hammonds was invited to teach at MIT. She helped start MIT's Center for the Study of Diversity in Science, Technology, and Medicine. She also helped organize an important conference in 1994. It was called "Black Women in the Academy: Defending Our Name." This event brought together Black female scholars to discuss their experiences.
In 2002, she returned to Harvard as a professor. She taught in the History of Science and African and African-American Studies departments. In 2008, she became the Dean of Harvard College. This made her the first African-American and the first woman to hold that position. She was also the fourth Black woman to become a tenured professor in Harvard's Faculty of Arts and Sciences.
What She Studies
Professor Hammonds' research looks at how science, medicine, and race are connected. She explores how science has viewed human differences, especially through the idea of "race." She studies history from the 17th century to today. Her work also covers the history of diseases and African-American feminism.
In 1995, she joined other Black feminists like Angela Davis. They formed a group called "African American Agenda 2000." This group spoke out against the Million Man March.
Books and Publications
Evelynn Hammonds has written several important books and articles. Here are some of them:
- Childhood's Deadly Scourge: The Campaign to Control Diphtheria in New York City, 1880 – 1930 (1999)
- The Nature of Difference: Sciences of Race in the United States from Jefferson to Genomics (2008)
- The Harvard Sampler: Liberal Education for the Twenty-first Century (2011)
- The Dilemma of Classification: The Past in the Present (2011)
Awards and Recognition
Evelynn Hammonds has received many honors for her work:
- President of the History of Science Society, 2024-2025
- The Harvard LGBTQ Students at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Association named an award after her in 2021. It's called the "Evelynn Hammonds Award for Exceptional Service to BGLTQ+ Inclusion."
- Elected to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences in 2021.
- Joined the Bates College Board of Trustees in 2018.
- Appointed to a committee on women in science, engineering, and medicine in 2017.
- Received the Founder's Award from the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Economic Justice in 2014.
- Received the Woman of Courage and Conviction Award in 2014.
- Received honorary degrees from Bates College (2011) and Spelman College (2004).
- Named a Fellow of the Association for Women in Science in 2008.
- Received the Barbara Gutmann Rosenkrantz Professorship at Harvard University in 2007.
