Lida Barrett facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lida K. Barrett
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Barrett in 2008
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| Born |
Lida Baker Kittrell
May 21, 1927 |
| Died | January 28, 2021 (aged 93) |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | |
| Spouse(s) | John Barrett |
| Awards |
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| Scientific career | |
| Thesis | Regular Curves and Regular Points of Finite Order (1954) |
| Doctoral advisor | J. R. Kline |
Lida Baker Kittrell Barrett (born May 21, 1927 – died January 28, 2021) was an amazing American mathematics professor. She also worked as an administrator, helping to run different university departments. Lida was very important in the world of math. She helped improve how math was taught and worked to include more people in math, especially those who hadn't had many chances before. She even led the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) as its president from 1989 to 1990.
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Early Life and Learning
Lida Baker Kittrell was born on May 21, 1927. Her hometown was Houston, Texas. She loved learning about math from a young age.
She went to three different universities to study mathematics. First, she earned her first degree from Rice University in 1946. Then, she got her master's degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1949. Finally, she earned her highest degree, a doctorate, from the University of Pennsylvania in 1954. Her special project for her doctorate was about "Regular Curves and Regular Points of Finite Order."
A Career in Mathematics
Lida Barrett started her teaching career at the Texas State College for Women. This school is now known as Texas Woman's University.
She later became a math professor at the University of Utah and the University of Tennessee. From 1973 to 1980, she was in charge of the math department at the University of Tennessee. During this time, she also worked on applied mathematics at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. This lab does important scientific research.
Lida then moved into leadership roles at other universities. She was an Associate Provost at Northern Illinois University. This means she helped manage many parts of the university. Later, she became the Dean of Arts and Sciences at Mississippi State University (MSU). After retiring from MSU, she continued to contribute. She worked for the National Science Foundation for three years. Then, she taught math at the United States Military Academy at West Point for another three years. Lida Barrett passed away in Knoxville, Tennessee, on January 28, 2021.
Important Leadership Roles
Lida Barrett held many important positions in the math community. From 1979 to 1982, she led a committee for the American Mathematical Society. This committee focused on jobs and education in math.
She made history by becoming the second woman president of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA). She served in this role from 1989 to 1990. She also helped plan a big international math conference in Madrid, Spain, in 1996. Lida was also part of committees that set standards for teaching math to young adults.
Awards and Recognition
Lida Barrett received many honors for her hard work and contributions. In 2008, she won the MAA Yueh-Gin Gung and Dr. Charles Y. Hu Award. This award is given for outstanding service to mathematics.
She was also recognized as a fellow of the American Mathematical Society. In 2019, she became a fellow of the Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM). The AWM praised her for helping to make math more diverse. They noted her "profound and long-lasting effect in diversifying the committees and leadership of the MAA." She was a true pioneer and supporter of women and other groups in mathematics.
