Dudley Weldon Woodard
Overview:
In
the spring of 2001, I was a member of a seminar class at Appalachian State
University taught by Dr. Sarah J. Greenwald. The class, Women and Minorities in Mathematics, took a
closer look at mathematics and the contribution of women and minorities to the
field. We examined many gender and
multicultural issues that have arose throughout the entire history of
mathematics. We encountered many
examples of blatant gender and racial discriminations, and studied how they are
still observed today in mathematics.
One
man that overcame these barriers to become only the second African American to
receive a PhD in mathematics was Dudley Weldon Woodard. He was a very proud and strong-willed
man who persevered and became a pioneer in the field of mathematics. Although encountering many racial
barriers along his way, Woodard was able to achieve success and pave the way
for future African American students of mathematics.
What kind of
mathematician was Woodard?
Introduction to
Woodard�s Mathematics