The Making of a Mathematician Through Inspiration, Empowerment, and Mentorship: Reflections on My Mathematical Journey Lecture by Leona A. Harris, Ph.D., C'95
"Whenever I reflect back on my years as a student in the Spelman College mathematics department, I cannot help but boast about the many lessons I learned that have shaped my professional trajectory, my world view and civic responsibility, and my commitment to diversifying the mathematical sciences," said Harris.
Her Falconer lecture will explore the impact of a legacy of inspiration, empowerment, and mentorship on her career path and life’s work. During the talk, she will reflect on her journey from student to professor to administrator to public servant. She will also share how she discovered the power of potential, possibilities, and purpose along the way.
About Dr. Harris
Dr. Leona A. Harris is an energetic, innovative, and meticulous professional with over 20 years of experience in research, education and administration. Dr. Harris currently serves as the director of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at the American Mathematical Society (AMS). She began this new role in January 2022, and is leading efforts to promote equity, diversity and inclusion within the AMS and the broader mathematics community.
Before joining the AMS, Dr. Harris served as a program analyst in the Office of Science at the Center for Tobacco Products of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). At the FDA, she led data strategy, reporting, and analysis efforts for a team responsible for support and implementation of the Office of Science’s strategic planning and process improvement initiatives.
Dr. Harris is an applied mathematician specializing in mathematical biology. She graduated magna cum laude from Spelman College with a B.S. in mathematics and earned her M.S. and Ph.D. in applied mathematics from North Carolina State University as a National Physical Science Consortium fellow. After graduate school, she completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), before entering the academy as a mathematics professor.
Dr. Harris is an accomplished educator with experience teaching all levels of undergraduate mathematics to diverse populations of students, including first-generation college students, transfer students, and adult learners. Dr. Harris spent ten years at The College of New Jersey, where she was tenured and promoted to Associate Professor of Mathematics and held several leadership roles, including Faculty Senator, Chair of the Applied Mathematics Committee, and Career Advising Coordinator.
During her tenure at the University of the District of Columbia, Dr. Harris was an associate professor of mathematics and served as chair of the Division of Sciences and Mathematics, where she provided leadership and oversight over the mathematics, biology, chemistry, and physics programs.
Dr. Harris has a demonstrated commitment to increasing the numbers of minorities and women pursuing careers and higher degrees in science and mathematics through her involvement in a variety of regional and national diversity initiatives. She has served as the executive director and interim president of the National Association of Mathematicians (NAM), co-chair of the Diversity Committee for Park City Mathematics Institute (PCMI); and co-founder of the Infinite Possibilities Conference (IPC).
Throughout her career, Dr. Harris has forged strong partnerships with a broad range of college faculty and professionals in education, industry, and government through academic support programs, interdisciplinary research, curriculum and program development, and professional association engagement.