Professor Emeritus Helen Grundman Honored by The Association for Women in Mathematics
The following uses material from a press release from The Association for Women in Mathematics:
During her time at Bryn Mawr, Grundman has an impressive record of mentoring more than thirty undergraduate female students, most earning graduate degrees in mathematics, physics, computer science, and other professional programs. She has not only mentored students from her classes, but her guidance has extended to students of all levels seeking advice regarding coursework, careers, and summer research programs. Additionally, she has been a research advisor for at least twenty-five senior theses, master’s theses, and Ph.D. theses, resulting in eight co-authored publications with undergraduate students, and two students receiving NSF Graduate Research Fellowships.
Setting Grundman apart from other instructors is her beautifully sincere and long-lasting support of students beyond graduation. One student comments that, “her support is the more remarkable because there was no formal relationship between us – she had never taught me in a course or been assigned as my major advisor,” while another student states “that kind of unwavering and unconditional support, which is so rare to find in mathematics, allowed me to reach out to her for help during the times I needed it most in graduate school.” She has received high praise for co-organizing the “Distressing Math Collective” seminar since 1997, where hundreds of students have developed their public speaking and mathematics skills through giving presentations. Moreover, Grundman has been a leader in mentoring with various organizations at the national level, and has been named the inaugural director of the new Education and Diversity Department at the AMS.
The AWM is proud to honor Helen Grundman’s outstanding achievements in inspiring, mentoring and supporting undergraduate women at all stages of their mathematical careers.
The 2017 Joint Mathematics Meetings will be held January 4 – 7 in Atlanta, GA. For further information on the Humphreys Award, including past winners, please visit www.awm-math.org.
About M. Gweneth Humphreys (1911–2006): Professor Humphreys graduated with honors in mathematics from the University of British Columbia in 1932, earning the prestigious Governor General's Gold Medal at graduation. After receiving her master's degree from Smith College in 1933, Humphreys earned her PhD at age 23 from the University of Chicago in 1935. She taught mathematics to women for her entire career, first at Mount St. Scholastica College, then for several years at Sophie Newcomb College, and finally for over thirty years at Randolph-Macon Woman's College. This award, funded by contributions from her former students and colleagues at Randolph-Macon Woman's College, recognizes her commitment to and her profound influence on undergraduate students of mathematics.