Gweneth Humphreys Award

2017 Winner: Helen G. Grundman

Citation:

The Association for Women in Mathematics is pleased to present its seventh annual M. Gweneth Humphreys Award to Helen G. Grundman, Professor Emeritus of Mathematics at Bryn Mawr College and inaugural Director of Education and Diversity at the American Mathematical Society.

At Bryn Mawr, Dr. Grundman has an impressive record of mentoring female undergraduate students, many of whom have now earned graduate degrees in mathematics, physics, computer science, or other professional programs. Not only has she mentored students from her classes, but her guidance has extended to students of all levels seeking advice on coursework, summer research programs, senior theses, and careers. In recent years, three of her mentees have received NSF Graduate Research Fellowships to continue their studies in Mathematics. While at Bryn Mawr, she has served as a research advisor for over twenty-five senior undergraduate theses, Master’s theses, and Ph.D. dissertations. The undergraduate research has resulted in at least eight published papers coauthored with her students.

She has received high praise for her work with undergraduates in the “Distressing Math Collective,” a weekly informal math seminar/club that she created with some students almost twenty years ago. Students gather to give and to listen to math talks in a friendly, gregarious atmosphere, in which interruptions (and jokes) are encouraged. The students learn math, develop their public speaking skills, (get some mentoring,) and find comradery in an environment where it is normal to enjoy math.

Setting Dr. Grundman apart from other professors 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.”

Response from Helen G. Grundman:

I am deeply honored to receive the AWM’s M. Gweneth Humphreys Award. I am also extremely humbled by the many notes and letters that former students of mine wrote in support of this nomination and were kind enough to share with me. My sincere thanks to all of them and, of course, to the award selection committee.

It is wonderful to be reminded how the seemingly little things that we do can have such major positive impacts on our students’ lives. As I move into my new career, I hope to continue to pay attention to the small things that I can do for individuals, even while I work on larger projects for the mathematics community.