Gweneth Humphreys Award

2026 Winner: Anant P. Godbole

The Association for Women in Mathematics is pleased to announce that the 2026 M. Gweneth Humphreys Award will be presented at the Joint Mathematics Meetings to Anant P. Godbole, professor emeritus of mathematics and statistics, East Tennessee State University, and adjunct faculty in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at High Point University, for his significant and lasting contributions in mentoring and for his impact on the mathematics community.

Citation

Dr. Anant P. Godbole’s mentoring legacy spans over thirty years, marked by numerous moments of lasting impact that carry forward through his students into their own work. Dr. Godbole served as a professor of mathematics at Michigan Technological University (MTU) from 1984 to 2000. From 2000 until 2023, Dr. Godbole served as a professor of Mathematics and Statistics at East Tennessee State University (ETSU). During his career Dr. Godbole also served as the chair of the Department of Math and Statistics at ETSU (2000–2011) and as the executive director of the Center of Excellence in Math/Science Education (2014–2021). He has been honored throughout his career as a distinguished researcher and a distinguished teacher numerous times at both Michigan Tech and ETSU, beginning with winning the inaugural Department of Mathematical Sciences Teaching award from Michigan Tech in 1990 and most recently being awarded the Mathematics Department Distinguished Teaching Award from ETSU in 2012.

Dr. Godbole began a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program in 1991 at Michigan Tech that he ran nearly continuously (moving the program to ETSU in 2000) until 2016. Beginning in 2019 he continued with the REU as a co- principal investigator, transitioning to senior personnel in 2022. Over the course of his REU mentorship, 128 female undergraduate students participated in mathematics research under his guidance, which led to over 60 papers with or by those students. Many of those students have gone on to complete PhDs in mathematics and are serving as faculty and administrators across the country, including positions at Amherst College, Brown University, Cornell University, Georgia Tech, and Stanford University. Dr. Godbole’s method and approach to REU mentoring became a model for many. Dr. Yan Zhuang, an associate professor in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at Davidson College, and member of the 2012 REU cohort, said that “when difficult situations arise, I quite literally find myself asking ‘What would Anant do?’”

Dr. Godbole has consistently demonstrated a passion for inclusiveness in mathematics, stating in “Traditional Roots, New Beginnings: Transitions in Undergraduate Research in Mathematics at ETSU” in the Proceedings of the 2006 Conference on Promoting Undergraduate Research in Mathematics that “I have begun to believe that undergraduate research is appropriate for all math majors, regardless of their ability, and that it should not be confined only to select students such as those in honors programs.” He further stated that undergraduate research experiences should be available to “the students most likely to experience long-term impact from summer experience.”

Long-term impact is a theme in letters from many of his former students. Isabel Byrne (currently a PhD student, 2021 REU cohort) noted that “seven of ten students [in her research group] were female which was a unique experience for me” and that “Dr. Godbole’s support did not end with my REU. […] He continued to stay in touch and check on my progress. I would not be where I am today without his commitment and support.” Similarly, Daphne Skipper (PhD, associate professor of mathematics, US Naval Academy, 1993 REU Cohort) said “[t]here were four women and two men in our REU cohort—a gender balance that I didn’t fully appreciate at the time, but now realize was pretty special. […] It’s hard to say exactly how my career would have been different without Anant’s REU program, but it is safe to say that each of the phases, graduate school and then progressing in academia, would have been more difficult.’’ Jessica Sidman (Brian E. Boyle Professor in Mathematics and Computer Science at Amherst College, 1996 REU cohort) said “[w]hat I learned from Anant’s example of mentorship continues to influence me in my work with students today.”

Having recently retired from full-time teaching, Dr. Godbole plans to continue engaging undergraduates in research as well as to revisit some of the unpublished work from his years as an REU mentor. Dr. Godbole’s efforts in nurturing the next generation of mathematicians will manifest well beyond his own students. The AWM is pleased to honor Dr. Godbole for his significant and lasting contributions in mentoring and for his impact on the mathematics community.

Response from Anant P. Godbole

It is indeed a great honor to be selected as the recipient of AWM’s Gweneth Humphreys Award for the mentorship of undergraduate women. I would like to deeply thank my nominators and the students who wrote letters of support. I thank the Award Committee for selecting me.

It is very gratifying to see how far my students, from both MTU and ETSU, and from the REU’s held at these schools between 1991 and 2021, have gone, and how successful they have been.

I began teaching in 1984, was tenured in 1990, and gained full professorship in 1994. These are coincidentally the years that my three daughters (Ramona, Maya, and Leena) were born. My wife Kalpana, and our three daughters, were the women who lived and grew through the REU adventure, offering support, curiosity, and praise at all times. I recall Ramona being in awe of one of the women in my 1996 REU cohort, later befriending her. As the years went by, all three of the girls said “Dad, I am older than your REU students!”

My professional career has been intertwined with those of my students. A vast majority of my papers have been with my undergraduate students, particularly from the REU. Several other papers, authored by student teams, have also been influenced by my support. As a professor and administrator at two non-PhD–granting schools (MTU began offering the PhD after I left), I soon found myself living my life vicariously through the successes of my students. Thank you all so much!