STEMinista Project

This week on , we wrap up by honoring the the work of Dr. Gloria Ford Gilmer, a Black mathematician and educator who continues to shape the face of STEM. Dr. Gilmer earned her B.S. in mathematics from Morgan State University. After earning her M.A. in mathematics from the University of Pennsylvania, she and taught at six different Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). After taking time away to start a family, Gloria Ford Gilmer earned her Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction from Marquette University in Wisconsin.

Dr. Gilmer was the first Black female on the board of governors of the Mathematical Association of America (1980 – 1982). She has also served as a research associate with the U.S. Department of Education (1981 – 1984). In 1985, she co-founded the Executive Board of International Study Group on Ethnomathematics (ISGEm) and served as President of the organization from 1985-1996. Dr. Gilmer was also the first woman to give the National Association of Mathematician’s Cox-Talbot Address. Visit http://www.math.buffalo.edu/mad/special/gilmer-gloria_HAIRSTYLES.html to read Dr. Gilmer’s paper on the mathematical patterns found in African-American hair styles.

is part of MathAlive!, MiSci's traveling exhibit that connects math to the world around us. Visit mi-sci.org/math-alive to learn more, and to plan your visit today!

[Accessibility]
The background is a gradient mixture of big blue, red, and purple circular spirals. The STEMinista Logo is in a purple gradient circle to the upper right of the graphic. Under the STEMinista logo there are six rings interlocked in dark blue, yellow, light blue, orange, red, and blue. In a yellow circular frame is a photo of Gloria Ford Gilmer. To the lower right of Dr. Gilmer’s photo, there is white text that reads, “Gloria Ford Gilmer” Under her name reads, “Mathematics and Education” The hashtags “MathtasticMonday” and “STEMinistasCan” are at the bottom of the graphic.

This week on , we celebrate by honoring the one of the many Black mathematicians who helped shape what STEM is today. Annie Easley (April 23, 1933-June 25, 2011) was a computer scientist, rocket scientist, and mathematician who worked for the Lewis Research Center (now the Glenn Research Center), a NASA center in Cleveland, Ohio. She was a leading member of the team responsible for designing software used in the Centaur rocket stage, and was one of the first African-Americans to work at NASA.

During her time at NASA, Easley also worked as an Equal Employment Opportunity counselor to help the agency formally address concerns of discrimination from women and African-American employees at all levels of the company. Annie Easley was inducted into the Glenn Research Hall of Fame in 2015, four years after her passing in 2011. In February 2021, a crater on the Moon was named after Easley.

is part of MathAlive!, MiSci's newest traveling exhibit that connects math to the world around us. Visit mi-sci.org/math-alive to learn more, and to plan your visit today!

[Accessibility:]
The background is a gradient mixture of big blue, red, and purple circular spirals. The STEMinista Logo is in a purple gradient circle to the upper right of the graphic. Under the STEMinista logo there are six rings interlocked in dark blue, yellow, light blue, orange, red, and blue. In a yellow circular frame is a photo of Annie Easley. She is a black woman with curly, short dark hair and dark eyes. To the lower right of Annie’s photo, there is white text that reads, “Annie Easley” Under her name reads, “Computer scientist, rocket scientist, and mathematician” The hashtags “MathtasticMonday” and “STEMinistasCan” are at the bottom of the graphic.