Ulrica Wilson facts for kids

Ulrica Wilson is a super smart mathematician! She studies special kinds of math called noncommutative rings and combinatorics of matrices. Think of it like solving very complex puzzles with numbers and shapes.

She works as a professor at Morehouse College. She also helps lead a program at the Institute for Computational and Experimental Research in Mathematics (ICERM) that focuses on making math open to everyone. She used to be a leader for the National Association of Mathematicians too.

Her Journey in Math

Ulrica Wilson is an African-American woman. She grew up in Birmingham, Alabama.

She went to Spelman College and finished her studies there in 1992. Later, she earned her highest degree, a Ph.D., from Emory University in 2004. Her big research project was about "Cyclicity of Division Algebras over an Arithmetically Nice Field."

After doing some research jobs, she joined Morehouse College in 2007. In 2013, she also started her role at ICERM. She helps guide ICERM's education plans.

Helping Others in Math

Ulrica Wilson also helps lead a program called REUF. This stands for "Research Experience for Undergraduate Faculty." It helps college teachers learn new research ideas. Then, they can share these ideas with their own students.

The EDGE Program

Since 2011, Ulrica Wilson has been a co-director of the EDGE Program. EDGE stands for "Enhancing Diversity in Graduate Education." This program is all about helping women in math. It especially supports women from groups that don't have many people in math careers.

How EDGE Helps Women

The EDGE program helps women in many ways:

• It trains and supports them in their math studies.
• It helps them get jobs in math, whether in schools, businesses, or government.
• It has helped more women, especially from minority groups, get important math jobs.

EDGE started by offering summer classes. These classes helped women learn research skills. The program also holds yearly meetings and helps women work with top universities.

EDGE's Impact

The EDGE program now gives ongoing support to women at different stages of their math careers. This includes students just starting graduate school, advanced students, and those who have finished their degrees.

Since Ulrica Wilson became a leader, over 50 women have joined EDGE activities. Also, 18 women who were part of EDGE have earned their Ph.D. degrees! Many women have also received support to take time off for research. One woman even used this support to work with a senior mathematician at Purdue University.

Awards and Recognition

Ulrica Wilson has received many awards for her amazing work in math and for helping others.

• In 2003, she won the Marshall Hall Award from Emory College. This was for her great teaching and research as a student.
• Morehouse College gave her the Vulcan Teaching Excellence Award in 2016–2017.
• In 2017, she was honored by Mathematically Gifted & Black during Black History Month.
• She won the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring in 2018. This award is for people who are great at guiding and helping others in science and math.
• In 2019, she became a special member of the Association for Women in Mathematics. This was because she has spent many years helping women get advanced degrees in math. She did this through mentoring, teaching, and leading programs like EDGE and her work at ICERM.
• In 2023, she received an award from the AMS. This award was for her big impact on how math is taught and learned for many different people.