Victoria Powers facts for kids
Victoria Ann Powers (born 1958 – died February 2, 2025) was a smart American mathematician. She was known for her work with numbers and shapes, especially in a field called algebraic geometry. She also studied how electoral systems work using math. Powers taught math at Emory University starting in 1987.
She wrote a book called Certificates of Positivity for Real Polynomials—Theory, Practice, and Applications. Experts said her book was a "very nice" way to explain important math ideas.
Contents
About Vicki Powers' Life and Work
Early Life and Education
Vicki Powers finished her first degree in math in 1980 at the University of Chicago. She then earned her Ph.D. (a higher degree) in 1985 from Cornell University. Her main project for her Ph.D. was about "Finite Constructable Spaces of Signatures."
Teaching and Research
After getting her Ph.D., she first taught at the University of Hawaiʻi. But just two years later, in 1987, she moved to Emory University. She stayed there for the rest of her career.
Powers also spent time working in other places. She was a special researcher in Germany (as a Humboldt Fellow) from 1991 to 1992. She was also a visiting professor in Spain in 2002–2003. From 2013 to 2015, she worked as a program officer at the National Science Foundation. This organization helps fund scientific research.
From 2012 to 2014, Powers was a Council Member for the American Mathematical Society. This is a big group for mathematicians in America.
Her Math Studies
Vicki Powers' work in math changed over time. She started with very complex ideas in real algebraic geometry. Later, she focused on more practical questions. These included studying "positive polynomials" (special math equations) and voting theory. Voting theory uses math to understand how elections work. She worked with many other mathematicians on her projects.
Personal Life
Vicki Powers was married to Colm Mulcahy, who was also a mathematician. They even had the same Ph.D. advisor! She passed away at home on February 2, 2025, due to complications from ALS.
Awards and Recognition
In May 2024, Vicki Powers received an award from Emory University. It was called the George P. Cuttino Award. This award recognized her excellent work in mentoring students.
