Susan Montgomery facts for kids

M. Susan Montgomery, born on April 2, 1943, in Lansing, Michigan, is a very important American mathematician. She is known for her work on special kinds of math structures called Hopf algebras. These are advanced topics in mathematics that help us understand how different mathematical systems work together. Earlier in her career, she also studied how groups of numbers or objects can act on other mathematical structures called rings.

Education and Early Career

Susan Montgomery studied at some of the best universities in the United States. She earned her first degree, a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), from the University of Michigan in 1965. After that, she went to the University of Chicago where she earned her Ph.D. in Mathematics in 1969. Her Ph.D. advisor, who guided her research, was a famous mathematician named Israel Nathan Herstein.

After finishing her Ph.D., Dr. Montgomery taught at DePaul University for one year. In 1970, she joined the faculty at the University of Southern California (USC). She became a full Professor there in 1982, which is a very high rank for a university teacher. She even led the Department of Mathematics at USC as its chair from 1996 to 1999.

Research and Publications

Dr. Montgomery has written many research papers and several books about mathematics. Her most well-known book is called Hopf algebras and their actions on rings. This book talks about a special area of math called Hopf-Galois theory, which she helped develop. It also introduces quantum group theory, another advanced math topic.

Throughout her career, Dr. Montgomery has spent time visiting and researching at many universities around the world. These include places like the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the University of Leeds, and the University of Munich.

Awards and Recognition

Dr. Montgomery has received many honors for her important work in mathematics. In 1984, she was given a Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship, which is a special award for people doing important research. USC also recognized her with a Raubenheimer Outstanding Faculty Award in 1987.

She has been invited to give important lectures at major math conferences. For example, she gave a special address at the Joint Mathematics Meetings in 1984, which is a big event for mathematicians. In 1995, she spoke at a joint meeting of American and Israeli mathematicians in Jerusalem. She also gave a main lecture at the summer meeting of the Canadian Mathematical Society in 2009. She has given many other talks at universities and meetings worldwide.

In 1992, Dr. Montgomery was the main speaker at a conference about Hopf Algebras. Her book, Hopf Algebras and their Actions on Rings, which came from this conference, is highly respected and often referred to by other mathematicians.

She has also played a big role in editing important math journals, like the Journal of Algebra for over 20 years. She helped decide which research papers would be published in these journals.

Leadership in Mathematics

Dr. Montgomery has been very active in the American Mathematical Society (AMS), which is a major organization for mathematicians in the U.S. She served on their Board of Trustees for ten years, from 1986 to 1996. She also served on other important committees within the AMS.

In 2013, she was chosen to be a Vice-President of the American Mathematical Society for three years. She was also a member of the National Research Council's Board on Mathematical Sciences and Their Applications.

Because of her significant contributions, Dr. Montgomery was named a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society in 2012. She also became a Fellow of the AAAS in the same year. These honors show how much her work is valued in the scientific community.