Dr. Talitha Washington

Dr. Talitha Washington is a mathematician in Howard University’s Department of Mathematics. She enjoys applying mathematics to understand and solve problems in biology, engineering, and physics. After completing her bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Spelman College, she went on to become the first African American to earn a doctorate in mathematics from the University of Connecticut. She is active in increasing the participation of people of color and women in the mathematics.

2017 Festival: The Mathematics of the ‘Hidden Figures’

What’s the mathematics that Katharine Johnson used to send John Glenn into orbit and bring him back safely? Come and uncover the essential ideas created by Johnson during the Space Race. We will also explore how other ‘Hidden Figures’ helped Johnson become a research mathematician in a racially segregated era.