Early success, encouragement add up to math Ph.D.s; Howard University female math doctorates achieve personal, university milestone - Noteworthy News

Black Issues in Higher Education, August 29, 2002 by Gabrielle Finley

WASHINGTON

Mathematics has traditionally been a field of study reserved "for men only," but two Washington-area schools are shattering the gender stereotypes that have kept the field a male preserve for so many years.

In 2000, three African American women--Drs. Tasha Inniss, Sherry Scott Joseph and Kimberly Weems--became the first African American women to receive math doctorates from the University of Maryland, College Park (see Black Issues, July 19, 2001). This year, Drs. Naiomi Cameron, Lynnell Matthews, Jillian McLeod and Iris Moche of Howard University joined that group of hardy pioneers. Their graduations marked a milestone: This is the first time in the institution's history that four African American women have received their doctoral degrees in mathematics at the same time.

"This is the largest number of female Ph.D.s ever produced by the department of mathematics since the inception of its Ph.D. program in 1975," says Dr. Clement Lutterodt, a professor in the math department. "The department is exceptionally pleased about this outcome."

According to Dr. Orlando Taylor, dean of the Howard University Graduate School, "The graduation of four Black women in the field of mathematics at Howard University in a single year typifies the university's continuing commitment to providing leadership in producing racially and culturally diverse individuals with advanced degrees. While Howard University is proud of its achievements, we urge our colleagues in other research universities to match its accomplishments."

The four women credit the department's supportive faculty, their friends, their families and each other with providing the inspiration and encouragement they needed to complete their degrees.

FEAR TURNS TO LOVE

Dr. Naiomi Cameron, a native of Providence, R.I., says that math has been a big part of her life since middle school.

"In middle school, I ended up being in this algebra class. I was in the 6th grade and the youngest student. I was also in the math club and on the math team. I saw it (math) as an activity more than a course that you take," Cameron says.

When she entered Howard University as a freshman nearly a decade ago, Cameron, 28, wanted to be an architect, not a mathematician. But math professor Dr. Adeniran Adeboye encouraged Cameron to take his class.

"Dr. Adeboye encouraged me to take his Calculus II course. I was a little apprehensive, but I took the course," Cameron says. "Once I took the course, that spurred me to take more math classes. I found out it was something I really loved," Cameron says.

After completing her bachelor's degree at Howard, Cameron, a mother of three, moved on to the University of Maryland, College Park for graduate studies but eventually returned to Howard.

"Once I started grad school at the University of Maryland, I think it was the first time that I realized there were obstacles," Cameron says. "When I got to Maryland, I started to see the difference between other students and myself. That affected my confidence. It was more so the size of the program. My confidence was shaken by being in a bigger environment, and I had to compete with a lot of other students for that personal attention. That's the major obstacle when your confidence is shaken and you start to question yourself."

Cameron returned to her alma mater and earned her doctorate in mathematics with a research specialization in combinatorics.

In the fall, Cameron will be teaching discrete mathematics at Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, Calif. Cameron hopes to gain a tenured position in the future.

A PIVOTAL COMMENT

Growing up in Upper Marlboro, Md., Dr. Lynnell Matthews gained a keen grasp of mathematics that she never let go of.

"I was in an eighth grade geometry class where Lydia Bowen was my teacher. No one really expected to get an A in her class.... A B to us was an A in her class.

"One quarter I got an A," Matthews remembers. "She told me that I really had a talent for math. That comment made me feel like I was good at this. ... At that point, I decided to major in math, not knowing what that meant."

Obtaining a doctorate in math, however, turned out to be more difficult than anyone would have predicted for Matthews.

"One semester my mother suffered a stroke and became ill, and I had to leave school," Matthews recalls. She quickly rehabilitated and recovered, but then suffered a second, more serious stroke, which paralyzed her whole left side.

"When my mother became ill, family responsibilities changed. I ended up leaving with a master's degree, but my goal was always to go back and get my Ph.D."

Matthews took a job at Bowie State University in Maryland and worked there for almost two years before she could return to Howard University and finish her doctorate.

She notes she couldn't have achieved her goal without a strong support system.

"My husband was there from day one. We've been together since high school," Matthews says, adding, "My family members have really been remarkable.... From an academic perspective, my adviser and Naiomi helped me. Naiomi and I studied together all the time. We literally had the same background. She was married and had kids, and we were in the same boat. I don't know when I would've finished without her. I know I haven't thanked her enough."