Rose Whelan Sedgewick facts for kids

Rose Whelan Sedgewick (born around 1904, died 2000) was an amazing American mathematician. She made history by becoming the very first person to get a PhD in math from Brown University in 1929. After that, she taught math at several universities. These included the University of Rochester and the University of Maryland.

Today, there's a special group at Brown University named after her. It's called the Rose Whelan Society. This group helps women and gender minorities who are studying or teaching math at Brown. Rose was married to another mathematician, Charles H.W. Sedgewick. They had four children together. She passed away on June 7, 2000, when she was 96 years old.

Her Journey in Math

Rose Whelan Sedgewick started her journey in mathematics by studying at Brown University. She worked very hard and achieved something incredible in 1929. She became the first person ever to earn a PhD in math from that university. A PhD is the highest degree you can get in a subject.

Teaching and Research

After finishing her studies, Rose became a professor. She taught math at different colleges and universities. This included places like the University of Connecticut and Hillyer College. She shared her knowledge and passion for math with many students.

Honors and Recognition

Rose Whelan Sedgewick was recognized by important math organizations. She was a member of the Mathematical Association of America. She also belonged to the American Mathematical Society. These groups are made up of mathematicians who work to advance the field.

She was also part of special honor societies. These included Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Xi. Being invited to these societies shows that she was an excellent student and scientist.