Women Academics From The United States

"Success is about “setting a goal, reaching it, and starting the process all over again with an equal sense of purpose and enthusiasm."

"Ideas that significantly improve or fill a void in our space and are supported by analytics for continuous measurement."

"The inspiration for O Analytics is life and business operation improvements using various technologies. It started with having thoughts that we wished that something existed to make an aspect of life, a process, or a product – better; and then actually acting on it."

"Whatever book keeps you fueled to continue on your entrepreneurial journey with enthusiasm is the one I’d recommend."

"Since the age of 13, I have had to manage a chronic disease called Myasthenia Gravis (MG). MG is a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disease that causes weakness in the skeletal muscles. It manifests in difficulty with breathing, droopy eyelids, double vision, trouble speaking and swallowing and weakness in the arms and legs. I had every symptom and the disease was so debilitating that I could not attend school in tenth grade."

"I’ve been fortunate to have many incredible experiences at Raytheon Technologies and Raytheon Intelligence & Space. One that stands out to me occurred through my work with the Army Research Laboratory (ARL), which gave me the opportunity to travel and participate in NATO workshops and conferences."

"In particular, I study mathematical predictions for aneurysm prevention and treatment. My specialties are ordinary and partial differential equations and numerical analysis. Oddly, I also love some areas of core mathematics. I love linear and abstract algebra and real and complex analysis."

"So that’s one of the reasons why I think I really fell in love with math, and why I enjoyed it, and why I try to help my students and everybody else around me see its power."

"Inspired by my parents’ belief in education as a pathway to liberation, meaning and purpose, I’ve dedicated my life to helping others obtain college degrees and upward mobility."

"Internally: A while back I decided that I am not in competition with anyone but who I was yesterday. I try to reflect on everything in order to grow. I am very proud of where I am now and excited for the future."

"There are many factors that make Raytheon Intelligence & Space a great place to work, and two things in particular stand out as an RI&S employee."

"I’ve learned through some of my research that Black girls want to be able to have more of a family, relaxed environment — to be able to laugh and be social — while at the same time doing their math work."

"I do believe that I possess the emotional intelligence to lead through those challenges with grace, respect, integrity, and with an inclusive spirit. My leadership will not only be data-driven but also holistically person-centered."

"Another experience that stands out to me was learning how to multiply by watching School House Rock videos! “Three is a magic number” is still a favorite of mine. You could say that public television and educational videos were my thing when I was a kid."

"As I touched on earlier, is RI&S’ global impact. We’re not just working to address national challenges, but also global issues. For example, we develop advanced sensors, cyber services and software solutions, and we deliver cutting-edge technology that enables our customers to succeed in any domain, against any challenge."

"A year ago this answer would be different, but this past year I have been recognized nationally and locally for my teaching, research, and service as a mathematician. I am very proud of all of the things I have been able to start or participate in. I am grateful to all the great people I do impactful things with. I appreciate that I am increasing the rate of change in this field, positive second derivative."

"There's a high attrition rate and the biggest drop off happens to be students of color and students from underserved backgrounds. When I was researching and finding out all these facts, it really made me want to figure out ways to support students and address this retention in STEM problem."

"I remember my love of mathematics emerging in first grade when I was excited by math facts and bored with coloring."

"Now, I have the knowledge and the understanding of what helped me to be productive in my own individual career that I’m able to kind of share that knowledge with my junior faculty, colleagues,"

"Although I was never in the American South and was a little too young to participate in civil rights demonstrations very much, I benefited quite directly from the Birmingham children’s march. The appalling assassination of Martin Luther King also had a profound impact on me. The shock wave of this movement percolated to the smallest scales of society so that it affected even the person to person interactions in mathematical culture that are so critical to career success or failure. I have also benefited from the support and friendship of the many African-American women mathematicians who preceded me and who have come onto the scene since. Collectively, our actions make it easier for all of us."

"I’m helping people to understand your notice of award and all [the] award conditions, and what does this mean? [I’m] also helping people to understand how to effectively manage their awards, and what certain things mean. What does participant support cost? When do you have your budget, and how do you expand your budget, and just providing all that different context and information to help people to be effective with their grants."

"My initial intellectual interest was not in mathematics but in science. My mother (for some reason) decided to give me a Gilbert chemistry set for Christmas when I was 9."

"My interest in mathematics was sparked and sustained in high school not by courses per se but by a number of well written, engaging books aimed at readers with a high school mathematics background."

"I know at NSF there was always a concerted effort to avoid implicit biases, and so I applaud them for that, and they continue to do that—to have an understanding that diversity breeds innovation, and I think that a lot of federal agencies understand that,” Innis said. “But also having opportunities for HBCUs and MSIs to lead on different programs—I think that is really helpful, and has helped us as well."

"We took care of the land. We captured water in a cistern and used a pump from the well. Nothing was thrown away. You had to use everything because there was little or no money. This meant that we practiced canning, composting, and reusing whatever we could"

"Second is our environmental sustainability efforts. We are committed to protecting the environment and conserving natural resources. RI&S — and Raytheon Technologies as a whole — is working to reduce our environmental footprint through responsible resource management, implementing innovative solutions and collaborating with stakeholders."

"I suppose many would say I should be proud of these educational attainments and indeed I take a lot of satisfaction in them as I come from a very modest social background—my parents had steady jobs, thank goodness but we lived in a housing project until I was 16. After Mr. Wilson, I did not meet another African American scientist let alone a mathematician until I was nearly done with graduate school."

"But whatever success I had or will have is bound up in the swirl of social and political forces that pushed mid-century America forward and these were largely beyond my control. I was born when the momentum of the New Deal, World War II and then Sputnik created sustained support for fostering STEM excellence in education."

"What I’ve seen is an increased focus and acknowledgment of supporting our various institutions,"

"We invited faculty from the region, from HBCUs in the region, to come and participate in our technical assistance workshop,” Inniss said. “We actually invited program officers to come to campus to present on the different programs in DRL, and then we had a coaching component."

"When I was in high school, I was able to go to a college campus to take undergraduate math classes, which was a great experience. To pass this on to the next generation, each year for the last ~20 years, I've run an intensive 2-week math and biology course for high school students."

"You are your brother’s keeper. You are responsible. You’re blessed to have what you have, and you’re responsible to take care of others, as God has taken care of you."

"A challenge is that more than half the students that enter college wanting to major in STEM don't end up getting that STEM degree."

"You had a lot of people there – a lot of people from all different cultures – and we all worked together. And if I ever needed anything – I know that doesn't sound believable, but if I ever needed anything -- they were there to help out"

"For example, you might first want to predict which drug or combination of drugs will work best on particular patients, and then it becomes important to know the right dose and schedule for administering that drug. Mathematical modeling can help answer these types of questions."

"Another outreach program that I am involved in is aimed at 1st and 2nd year college students. This project is driven by the fact that we really need more diverse students to become leaders in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)."

"I think that medical oncology could really use a mathematical modeling toolbox that can leverage clinical measurements to optimize treatments for individual patients. Mathematical modeling can also help us make predictions to improve clinical care."

"It’s important to have people that you know are interested in you and your career, a parent, mentor or sponsor. Not all of them, but some of them should look like you. You can’t underestimate that."

"In fact, Raytheon Technologies recently appointed a chief sustainability officer to help ensure that our products, solutions and platforms are built with sustainability in mind, and that we’re positively impacting the Earth’s climate and biodiversity in the process. I love that sustainability is something we’re working toward as a company."

"When I was a younger student, I was that kid who was able to do school. I knew how to talk to the right people and figure out what classes and things that I needed. That’s not because I had a legacy family that all went to college."

"Externally: Last year I bought a house on my own. I never thought I would be a homeowner and I am so proud of myself for not letting my doubts keep me from realizing this dream. I also co-founded a publishing company, 619 Wreath LLC, with my friend Miloš Savić… and we wrote a book titled “Radical Grace: Essays and Conversations on Teaching”. These are things that make me feel like such a grown-up!"

"My success is not possible without chancellors, presidents and leaders I’ve learned from, and each institution’s commitment to scholarship, innovation, academic excellence, community engagement and providing opportunities for all—which is exactly what inspired me to seek out this opportunity to lead Rutgers-Newark."

"Mom wouldn’t allow pesticides in her garden. Being a Brownie and a Girl Scout, we were taught about preventing forest fires, how to protect the environment, take care of animals, etc."

"I take pleasure in getting African-American students interested in this work, not only in aerospace and mechanical engineering but in any goal that might seem out of reach because they are a minority."

"By seventh grade I knew that I would major in mathematics as a college student. What I did not know was there were so many areas of mathematics to study. I am an applied mathematician who uses mathematics to solve equations that model physical phenomena in the medical field."

"To see the dedication and commitment to excellence, it exceeded my already high expectations."

"I’m thrilled to be living at a time where multidisciplinary work is rewarded. For instance, grant sponsors now include multiple disciplines and diversity as part of their funding requirements."

"I am both African American and a woman. I always knew that I was one of the few in my field, whether as an undergraduate majoring in mechanical engineering or later in life as faculty. However, I never felt as if I was at a disadvantage. I was fortunate to have and surround myself with supportive colleagues and mentors over the years."

"Women have to continue to pursue leadership roles in their organizations such that opportunities, such as hiring and promotion, and initiatives to engage and support women can be made a priority."

"It’s important to talk to others, both women and men, who are working in the field so they can learn more about the field and jobs/opportunities that may be available depending upon the level of training."