One of the first African-American women to earn a PhD in mathematics, she made significant contributions to computer science and academia, paving the way for future generations of women in STEM.
Evelyn Boyd Granville, a trailblazing mathematician and computer scientist, made history by becoming the second African American woman to earn a Ph.D. in mathematics from an American university in 1949. Her groundbreaking work in the field of computing paved the way for future generations of women in STEM.
Granville was born on May 1, 1924, in Washington, D.C., to a family struggling to make ends meet during the Great Depression. Despite the challenges, her mother and aunt worked tirelessly to provide for her and her older sister, instilling in them a strong work ethic and passion for learning.
Granville's academic prowess was evident from a young age, and she graduated as valedictorian from Dunbar High School, a segregated but academically competitive school for black students in Washington. She then went on to attend Smith College, where she majored in mathematics and physics, and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Xi. With the support of her aunt and a small partial scholarship, Granville graduated summa cum laude in 1945.
Granville's exceptional academic record earned her a graduate scholarship from the Smith Student Aid Society, which enabled her to pursue a Ph.D. in mathematics at Yale University. Under the supervision of renowned mathematician Einar Hille, Granville completed her dissertation, "On Laguerre Series in the Complex Domain," in 1949.
Following her graduate studies, Granville worked as a researcher and teacher at New York University Institute for Mathematics before taking a teaching position at Fisk University, a prestigious historically black college in Nashville, Tennessee. Although she faced significant barriers as a black woman in academia, Granville inspired and mentored several students who went on to earn doctorates in mathematics, including Vivienne Malone-Mayes and Etta Zuber Falconer.
Granville's pioneering work in computer science and mathematics has had a profound impact on the field. Her contributions to the development of computer programming languages, including her work on the Orbiting Astronomical Observatory (OAO) project, have paved the way for future generations of scientists and engineers.
Throughout her career, Granville has been recognized for her achievements, including being named a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and receiving the National Science Foundation's Lifetime Achievement Award.
Granville's legacy extends far beyond her academic achievements. She has inspired countless women and minorities to pursue careers in STEM, and her work has contributed significantly to the development of modern computing.
Today, Granville's story serves as a testament to the power of determination and hard work, and her contributions continue to inspire future generations of mathematicians, computer scientists, and engineers.
"I was always interested in astronomy, and I think that's what led me to mathematics. I wanted to understand the universe, and mathematics seemed to be the key to that understanding."
— Evelyn Boyd Granville
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