Evelyn Boyd Granville is a prominent figure in mathematics and was one of the first African-American women to earn a Ph.D. in mathematics. She was born on May 1, 1929, in Washington, D.C., United States.
Granville earned her Ph.D. in Mathematics from Yale University in 1949, making her, along with Euphemia Lofton Haynes, one of the first two African-American women to earn a doctoral degree in mathematics. Her dissertation was entitled “On Laguerre Series in the Complex Domain.”
After completing her education, Granville worked in a variety of roles, including in academia and the aerospace industry. One of her significant contributions was her work on Project Vanguard and Project Mercury at IBM, where she was a part of the U.S. space technology development team. Her work was instrumental in early U.S. space missions.
In addition to her work in the space industry, Granville has had a significant impact on the field of mathematics through her teaching and advocacy work. She has taught at several universities, including Fisk University and California State University, and has been an advocate for women and minorities in the STEM fields. Granville has encouraged numerous students to pursue careers in mathematics and science, and she has received numerous awards and honors for her work.
Evelyn Boyd Granville’s life and work demonstrate the importance of breaking barriers and the impact of perseverance and determination. Her achievements have paved the way for future generations of women and minorities in the STEM fields.
