Talitha Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Talitha Washington
|
|
|---|---|
Washington in 2003
|
|
| Born | 1974 Frankfort, Indiana, U.S.
|
| Alma mater | Spelman College (BS) University of Connecticut (MS, PhD) |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | Duke University (2001–2003) College of New Rochelle (2003–2005) University of Evansville (2005–2011) Howard University (2011–2020) National Science Foundation Atlanta University Center Consortium (AUCC) (2020–present) |
| Thesis | Mathematical Model of Proteins Acting as On/Off Switches |
| Doctoral advisor | Yung-Sze Choi |
Talitha Washington, born in 1974, is an American mathematician. She is also a professor who works with applied mathematics. She helps shape policies for STEM education. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.
In 2018, she was honored by "Mathematically Gifted & Black." This group celebrates Black mathematicians. In 2023, Dr. Washington became the 26th president of the Association for Women in Mathematics. This is a big role in the math world.
Contents
Early Life and Education Journey
Talitha Washington was born in Frankfort, Indiana. She was adopted by Ruthanne and Walter Wangerin. She grew up in Evansville, Indiana. There, she went to Benjamin Bosse High School.
After high school, she spent time in Costa Rica. She was part of the American Field Service. This program helps students learn about other cultures. In 1996, she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics. She got this degree from Spelman College.
She then continued her studies at the University of Connecticut. She earned her Master's degree in 1998. In 2001, she received her Ph.D. Her Ph.D. research was about how proteins act like on/off switches. Her advisor was Yung-Sze Choi.
Her Career in Mathematics
Dr. Washington has taught at several universities. She was at Duke University from 2001 to 2003. Then she taught at the College of New Rochelle and the University of Evansville. In 2011, she joined Howard University. There, she became an associate professor of mathematics.
She also worked at the National Science Foundation. This is a U.S. government agency that supports science and engineering research. In 2020, she became the first director of the Data Science Initiative. This program is at the Atlanta University Center Consortium (AUCC).
In 2022, she was chosen to be the president-elect of the Association for Women in Mathematics. She officially became president on February 1, 2023.
What Dr. Washington Researches
Dr. Washington's research focuses on applied mathematics. She studies special ways to solve math problems. These methods are called nonstandard finite difference (NSFD) schemes. She uses them for different types of math equations.
Her work includes studying population models. These models help understand how populations grow or shrink. She also looks at one-dimensional systems. And she studies the Black–Scholes equation. This equation is used in finance.
Promoting STEM and Awards
Dr. Washington is very involved in education policy. She works to find the best ways to get more people from different backgrounds into STEM fields. At the National Science Foundation, she helped lead a program for Hispanic-Serving Institutions. She is also a graduate of SACNAS. This group supports diversity in STEM.
She serves on important committees for math organizations. These include the American Mathematical Society and the Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM).
Honoring a Pioneer
Dr. Washington helped bring attention to Elbert Frank Cox. He was a mathematician from her hometown of Evansville. He was the first African-American scholar to earn a doctorate in mathematics. In 2006, a plaque was put up to honor him. This showed how important his achievements were.
Awards and Recognitions
In 2019, Dr. Washington received the Black Engineer of the Year Awards STEM Innovator Award. This award recognizes her new ideas in STEM.
In 2021, she was named a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society. This honor was for her work in helping more diverse groups join math. It also recognized her service to the math community.
She was also named a Fellow of the AWM in 2021. This was for her efforts to raise awareness about African American women in STEM. It also recognized her support for Historically Black Colleges and Universities. And it honored her dedication to the National Association of Mathematicians.
In 2022, she was elected as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). This is another high honor in the scientific community.
Images for kids
-
Washington in 2003
