Talithia Williams

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Talithia D. Williams
NationalityAmerican
Alma materSpelman College
Howard University
Rice University
Known forSpatial–temporal modeling of rainfall data
Scientific career
FieldsStatistics
InstitutionsHarvey Mudd College
ThesisReal-time estimation of rainfall: A dynamic spatio-temporal model (2008)
Doctoral advisorKatherine Bennett Ensor

Talithia D. Williams is an American statistician and mathematician at Harvey Mudd College who researches the spatiotemporal structure of data.[1][2] She was the first black woman to achieve tenure at Harvey Mudd College.[2] Williams is an advocate for engaging more African Americans in engineering and science.[3]

Education[edit]

Her educational background includes a bachelor's degree in Mathematics from Spelman College, Master's degrees in both Mathematics from Howard University and Statistics from Rice University, and a Ph.D. in Statistics from Rice University.[4] Williams was in one of the first EDGE cohorts.[5] She is a winner of the Thomas J. Watson Fellowship.

Career and research[edit]

Williams has worked at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), the National Security Agency (NSA), and NASA.[1][6] She is an associate professor of mathematics and also serves as Associate Dean for Research and Experiential Learning at Harvey Mudd College.[7][1][6] She is Secretary and Treasurer for the EDGE Foundation which sponsors summer programs for women, and on the boards of the MAA and SACNAS.[1] Williams has done significant outreach, with the goal of bringing mathematics to life and "rebranding the field of mathematics as anything but dry, technical or male-dominated but instead a logical, productive career path that is crucial to the future of the country."[4][8]

Williams has developed statistical models focused on understanding the structure of spatiotemporal data, with environmental applications.[1][9] She has partnered with the World Health Organization in developing a cataract model used to predict the cataract surgical rate for countries in Africa.[9]

Williams was a host of the six part PBS series NOVA Wonders in April 2018.[10] She is the author of the book Power in Numbers: The Rebel Women of Mathematics (Race Point Publishing, 2018).[11][12] Williams was the narrator for the five-part PBS series NOVA Universe Revealed in November 2021.[13]

TED talk[edit]

In 2014, Williams gave a highly viewed TED talk titled "Own Your Body's Data", discussing the potential insights to be gained from collecting personal health data.[2]

Honors[edit]

In 2015 Williams received the MAA Henry L. Alder Award for exemplary teaching by an early career mathematics professor.[14] Williams was honored by the Association for Women in Mathematics and the Mathematical Association of America, when they selected her to be the AWM/MAA Falconer Lecturer at MathFest 2017 in Chicago, IL.[15] The title of her talk is "Not So Hidden Figures: Unveiling Mathematical Talent." Williams was also recognized by Mathematically Gifted & Black as a Black History Month 2017 Honoree.[16] She received the 2022 Joint Policy Board for Mathematics Communication Award "for bringing mathematics and statistics into the homes of millions through her work as a TV host, renowned speaker, and author."[17][18]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e "Talithia Williams, Harvey Mudd College - AWM Association for Women in Mathematics". sites.google.com. Retrieved 2017-04-08.
  2. ^ a b c Paoletta, Rae. "These Black Female Mathematicians Should Be Stars in the Blockbusters of Tomorrow". Gizmodo. Retrieved 2017-04-08.
  3. ^ Klawe, Maria. "Increasing Education Opportunities For Minorities In STEM". Forbes. Retrieved 2017-04-08.
  4. ^ a b "Talithia Williams : Harvey Mudd College". www.math.hmc.edu. Retrieved 2017-04-08.
  5. ^ "EDGE: A Program for Women in Mathematics - THE EDGE PROGRAM". THE EDGE PROGRAM. Retrieved 2017-04-08.
  6. ^ a b Williams, Talithia. "Talithia Williams | Speaker | TED.com". Retrieved 2017-04-08.
  7. ^ "Mathematics Faculty". Harvey Mudd Department of Mathematics. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  8. ^ "Talithia Williams | Book for Speaking, Events and Appearances". www.apbspeakers.com. 2015-12-16. Retrieved 2017-04-08.
  9. ^ a b "Mosaic: Talithia Williams - Mackinac Gazette - Grand Valley State University". www.gvsu.edu. Retrieved 2017-04-08.
  10. ^ "Meet Talithia Williams". NOVA Wonders. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  11. ^ Reviews of Power in Numbers: The Rebel Women of Mathematics:
  12. ^ "Williams' Book Highlights Female Mathematicians". Harvey Mudd College News. June 11, 2018.
  13. ^ "NOVA Universe Revealed". NOVA. 27 October 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  14. ^ "Henry L. Adler Award". Mathematical Association of America. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  15. ^ "Invited Lectures at MathFest 2017". Mathematical Association of America. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  16. ^ "Talithia Williams". Mathematically Gifted & Black.
  17. ^ "Statistician Talithia Williams is the 2022 JPBM Communications Award Recipient". SIAM News. Retrieved 2021-09-13.
  18. ^ Meetings (JMM), Joint Mathematics. "Joint Mathematics Meetings". Joint Mathematics Meetings. Retrieved 2022-06-19.
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