{"id":147,"date":"2017-06-02T16:42:41","date_gmt":"2017-06-02T16:42:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hmc.edu\/mathematics\/?page_id=147"},"modified":"2026-09-08T13:16:38","modified_gmt":"2026-09-08T20:16:38","slug":"williams","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.hmc.edu\/mathematics\/faculty-staff\/williams\/","title":{"rendered":"Talithia Williams"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Dr. Talithia Williams<\/strong> is a trailblazer and\u00a0a passionate advocate for making science, technology, engineering and mathematics relevant and empowering for all.\u00a0\u00a0As an award-winning college professor, she brings statistics to life by demystifying complex mathematical concepts, making them accessible and exciting for students, parents, and educators. In her popular TED Talk,\u00a0\u201cOwn Your Body\u2019s Data\u201d<\/strong>, Dr. Williams emphasizes the critical role of statistics in quantifying and understanding personal health information. She weaves humor and insight, urging us to embrace data as a powerful tool for wellness.\u00a0Talithia authored the book\u00a0\u201cPower in Numbers: The Rebel Women of Mathematics\u201d<\/strong>, celebrating the unsung heroines of the mathematical sciences and the challenges they faced diversifying the field.\u00a0\u00a0As the first black woman to achieve tenure at\u00a0Harvey Mudd College<\/strong>, Dr. Williams has shattered barriers and paved the way for future generations.\u00a0\u00a0With an educational background that includes a bachelor\u2019s degree in Mathematics from\u00a0Spelman College<\/strong>, master\u2019s degrees in both Mathematics from\u00a0Howard University<\/strong>\u00a0and Statistics from\u00a0Rice University<\/strong>, and a Ph.D. in Statistics from\u00a0Rice University<\/strong>, Dr. Williams embodies the fusion of scholarship and real-world impact.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2024, she was named a recipient of the prestigious Rice University Laureates Distinguished Alumni Award.  Williams\u2019s selection highlights her influential scholarship, her national leadership in statistics education, and her commitment to empowering underrepresented groups in mathematics and science.  The Joint Policy Board for Mathematics, a collaborative effort of the American Mathematical Society, the American Statistical Association, the Mathematical Association of America, and Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, recognized Dr. Williams with their 2022 Communications Award<\/strong> for bringing mathematics and statistics into the homes and hands of millions through her work as a TV host, renowned speaker, and author. In 2015, she won the MAA\u2019s Henry L. Alder Award for Distinguished Teaching, which honors faculty members whose teaching is effective and extraordinary, and extends its influence beyond the classroom. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Williams graces our screens as the host of several PBS NOVA documentaries, including \u201cZero to Infinity\u201d<\/strong> and \u201cNOVA Wonders\u201d<\/strong>. Through captivating storytelling, she explores the wonders of science and mathematics and their impact on our modern world.  Talithia\u2019s voice resonates behind the scenes as the narrator of several science documentary films, including \u201cHindenburg: The New Evidence\u201d<\/strong>, \u201cOur Beautiful Planet\u201d<\/strong>, \u201cSecrets in Our DNA\u201d<\/strong> and the 5-part BBC NOVA series, \u201cThe Universe: Revealed\u201d<\/strong>.  She has held research appointments at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)<\/strong>, the National Security Agency (NSA)<\/strong>, and NASA Johnson Space Center<\/strong>.  She has partnered with the World Health Organization<\/strong> to develop a cataract model that predicts surgical rates in African countries.  Her scholarly contributions, spanning over several years, have not only deepened our understanding of health disparities but also illuminated the intricate connections between data, science, and society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her passion for STEM advocacy extends beyond academia, as she actively encourages more women and African Americans to engage in engineering and scientific pursuits. Dr. Williams mission is to breathe life into mathematics. She dismantles stereotypes, rebranding the field as anything but dry, technical, or male-dominated.  Through her outreach, she ignites curiosity, showing that math is a logical, productive career path crucial to the country\u2019s future. Her infectious enthusiasm inspires curiosity and ignites a love for STEM disciplines. Faith and family round out a busy life that she shares with her husband Donald and three amazing boys, Josiah, Noah and Micaiah, all of whom infuse her life with joy and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Further Resources<\/h2>\n\n\n\n