Mary & Alfie Gray Award for Social Justice 2027

2027 Winner:  Leslie Ain McClure

The Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM) will present the 2027 AWM Mary and Alfie Gray Award for Social Justice to Leslie Ain McClure, dean of the College for Public Health and Social Justice and professor of biostatistics at Saint Louis University, at the Joint Mathematics Meetings in Chicago, IL, in January 2027.

Citation 

The Association for Women in Mathematics presents the Mary and Alfie Gray Award for Social Justice to Leslie Ain McClure, dean of the College for Public Health and Social Justice and professor of biostatistics at Saint Louis University, for a career that brings the mathematical sciences vigorously and imaginatively to bear on the cause of social justice.

For more than twenty-five years, McClure has used rigorous biostatistical theory and spatial statistical methods to show how race, place, socioeconomic position, and policy shape unequal health outcomes across the life course. Through the imaginative application of novel measures of neighborhood, environmental, and social disadvantage, her work makes structural inequities visible and locates their causes in systemic conditions rather than in the individuals who experience them, ensuring that, rather than perpetuating biases, mathematical models and analyses reflect lived realities.

McClure’s commitment to justice extends to her leadership and mentorship, from nine years on the Executive Council of the Math Alliance to her advising and mentorship of scholars traditionally underrepresented in the mathematical sciences. For research, leadership, and mentorship that together demonstrate the power of mathematics in the service of social justice, AWM is honored to recognize Leslie Ain McClure.

Response from Leslie Ain McClure

I am deeply honored to receive the 2027 Mary and Alfie Gray Award for Social Justice from the Association for Women in Mathematics. I am humbled to be associated with the legacy of Mary and Alfred Gray, and I will strive to continue honoring their commitment to human rights, equity, and justice through my research, teaching, mentoring, and leadership.

My career has been guided by the desire to do good through my research. As a biostatistician, my work is inherently collaborative, and I have been fortunate to partner with colleagues across disciplines who share a commitment to understanding and addressing health inequities. I am grateful to each of my collaborators, whose insights and dedication have shaped both my work and my perspective, and who continually challenge me to ensure that our research reflects our shared commitment to social justice.

Mentoring has also been one of the greatest privileges of my career. I have learned as much from my mentees as they have from me, and this recognition belongs in no small part to them. Their curiosity, resilience, and commitment to making a difference inspire me every day, and I am extremely thankful for the trust they have placed in me.

I am grateful to the Association for Women in Mathematics for recognizing the vital role that mathematical scientists can play in advancing social justice, and for honoring me with this award.