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 works in applied mathematics and helps shape rules for STEM education. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. She was honored in 2018 for Black History Month. In 2023, she became the president of the Association for Women in Mathematics.

Becoming a Mathematician

Talitha Washington was born in Frankfort, Indiana. She grew up in Evansville, Indiana, after being adopted by Ruthanne and Walter Wangerin. She went to Benjamin Bosse High School.

College and Beyond

After high school, Talitha spent time in Costa Rica with a program called American Field Service. She then earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Spelman College in 1996.

She continued her studies at the University of Connecticut. There, she earned her Master's degree in 1998. In 2001, she completed her Ph.D. (a high-level university degree). Her Ph.D. paper was about how math can model proteins that act like on/off switches.

Teaching and Research

Dr. Washington has taught at several universities. She worked at Duke University from 2001 to 2003. Later, she taught at the College of New Rochelle and the University of Evansville.

In 2011, she joined Howard University as an associate professor of mathematics. She also worked as a program director at the National Science Foundation. This is a government agency that supports science and engineering research.

In 2020, she became the first director of the Data Science Initiative. This program is part of the Atlanta University Center Consortium. In 2023, she became the president of the Association for Women in Mathematics.

What She Studies

Dr. Washington's research focuses on special math methods. These methods are called nonstandard finite difference (NSFD) schemes. She uses them to study different kinds of math problems.

• Population models: These models help understand how populations of animals or people change over time.
• One-dimensional systems: These are math problems that involve movement or change in a single direction.
• Black–Scholes equation: This is a famous math formula used in finance.

Making a Difference

Talitha Washington is very involved in education policy. She works to make sure more people from different backgrounds can study STEM subjects.

Helping Others in STEM

At the National Science Foundation, she helped lead a program for Hispanic-Serving Institutions. These are colleges and universities that serve many Hispanic students. She is also a graduate of SACNAS, an organization that supports diversity in STEM.

She is part of the Council of the American Mathematical Society. She also served on a committee for the Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM).

Honoring a Pioneer

Dr. Washington helped bring attention to a forgotten mathematician named Elbert Frank Cox. He was from her hometown of Evansville. In 2006, a plaque was put up to honor him. He was the first African-American to earn a Ph.D. in mathematics.

Awards and Recognition

Talitha Washington has received many awards for her work.

• In 2019, she received the Black Engineer of the Year Awards STEM Innovator Award.
• She was named a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society in 2021. This award recognized her efforts to include more people from underrepresented groups in math.
• She also became a Fellow of the Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM) in 2021. This was for her work in raising awareness about African American women in STEM. It also recognized her support for Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
• In 2022, she was elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).