Mentoring young women in Mathematics
Every year we mentor high school female students in the Madison area who have an interest in Mathematics and the Sciences. Students come to campus for one and a half hours every week and work on selected projects with graduate student mentors (and at times undergraduate math majors). The program is inclusive, the aim is not to search for talent but rather to expose these students to other students with the same interest, and to professionals of the subject. The program is coordinated by two faculty members and an academic staff.
Outcomes
Several students participating in the program have expressed more confidence in their math abilities and have decided to ultimately work in areas like Engineering and Math. These areas are viewed as male-oriented and the program tries to break stereotypes. Also, some of the students who attended UW-Madison after their graduation contacted me several times as a person who could advise them in a variety of issues. The program creates links between the participants and the organizers beyond the mere academic one.
Focus Areas
Project Leader
- Department/Unit
- Mathematics
- School or College
- College of Letters & Science