Megan Murphy

Peggy Carr’s family moved to Cleveland, Ohio, in the 1950s—during The Great Migration—and that is where Carr was born and attended grade school.

Qixuan Chen’s journey into statistics was deeply inspired by her father, who pursued a self-taught degree in statistics while managing more than 100 employees, achieving the highest GPA in his class.

Elizabeth Colantuoni grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, and returned there after college to pursue her professional career and start a family.

“My life has been an exercise in serendipity and survival,” says Nairanjana Dasgupta.

Aurore Delaigle grew up in the French-speaking part of Belgium, where her parents—both high school teachers in mathematics and sciences—influenced her early interest in mathematics.

Shannon Ellis attended King’s College, where she earned a bachelor’s in biology and Spanish while playing Division III sports. A pivotal moment came when her genetics professor, Jeramia Ory, invited her to join his research lab.

When Bailey Fosdick began college at the Colorado School of Mines, she was drawn to science but quickly realized she disliked lab work. Mathematics, however, stood out as the common thread tying her interests together.

Brenda Gaydos is a devoted grandmother, retired from a rewarding career as a statistician in the pharmaceutical industry.

Elena Grewal’s journey began in New Haven, Connecticut, where the stark contrast between her public elementary school and elite private high school ignited her passion for addressing inequality.