Judith Roitman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Judith A. Roitman
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Prof. Judy Roitman during the conference "Boise Extravaganza in Set Theory BEST 17", Boise, Idaho, March 2008
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| Born | November 12, 1945 |
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Bon Hae |
| Known for | Topology, set theory, Boolean algebras, mathematics education |
| Spouse(s) | Stanley Lombardo |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Mathematician |
| Institutions | University of Kansas |
| Doctoral advisor | Robert M. Solovay |
Judith A. "Judy" Roitman (born November 12, 1945) is a smart mathematician who used to teach at the University of Kansas. She is known for her work in different areas of math. These include set theory, which is about collections of objects, and topology, which studies shapes and spaces. She also worked with Boolean algebras, a type of math used in computer science. Judy Roitman is also very involved in mathematics education, helping people learn math better.
Contents
About Judy Roitman
Early Life and Education
Judy Roitman was born in New York City in 1945. She first studied English literature at Oberlin College and Sarah Lawrence College. She graduated in 1966. Later, she became interested in how language and math connect, called mathematical linguistics.
Even though she hadn't studied much math formally, Judy started taking math classes. She went to the University of California, Berkeley and San Francisco State University. She had enjoyed math in high school, and her interest grew again.
Becoming a Mathematician
In 1969, Judy began studying math at Berkeley for her advanced degrees. While she was a graduate student, she also taught math to young kids. She worked with a program called Project SEED. In 1974, she earned her Ph.D. (a high-level degree) from UC Berkeley. Her main area of study was topology. Her professor, Robert M. Solovay, helped her with her research.
After finishing her studies, she taught at Wellesley College for three years. Then, she spent some time at the Institute for Advanced Study. Since then, she has been a professor at the University of Kansas.
Helping Others Learn Math
Judy Roitman has spent a lot of her career helping improve how math is taught. She has led workshops for teachers in elementary and high schools. She also visited classrooms to see how teachers were doing. She believes that all mathematicians should care about and get involved in math education.
She was part of a group that wrote an important book called Principles and Standards for School Mathematics. This book helps guide how math should be taught in schools. Judy has always said that there isn't a "math war" in the U.S. She means that people should work together to make math education better, instead of arguing.
Other Interests
Judy Roitman has also been very active in the Association for Women in Mathematics. This group supports women in math. She was even the president of this association from 1979 to 1981.
Since 1976, Judy has been a Zen Buddhist. She is now a guiding teacher at the Kansas Zen Center. She and her husband, Stanley Lombardo, helped start this center.
Besides math, Judy Roitman is also a poet. Her poems have been published in many magazines and books.
Awards and Recognition
Judy Roitman has received several awards for her important work.
- In 1996, she won the Louise Hay Award. This award recognized her great work as a math educator.
- In 2012, she became a fellow of the American Mathematical Society. This is a special honor for mathematicians.
- In 2017, she was chosen as a fellow of the Association for Women in Mathematics. She was part of the very first group to receive this honor.
See also
In Spanish: Judith Roitman para niños
