Women Who Count: Honoring African American Women Mathematicians
By Shelly M. Jones
A children’s activity book featuring the important work, accomplishments and everyday lives of African American women mathematicians including the women from the book and movie Hidden Figures. Although the book is geared to children in grades 3 – 8, it is appropriate for all ages. The book includes a portrait sketch and short biography for each of 29 featured mathematicians each followed by elementary school and middle school activity pages.
May 2019
Dr. Jones presented a workshop session during CAMPY (The Connecticut Association of Mathematically Precocious Youth) at Central CT State University. CCSU's CAMPY-on-Campus is an annual STEM event for middle school students.
Hidden Figure
March 2019
Meet Hidden Figure, Dr. Christine Darden! I was humbled to introduce Dr. Darden for her talk celebrating Women's History Month at Virginia State University for the College of Engineering and Technology’s Inaugural Awards Banquet.
Dr. Evelyn Boyd Granville
January 2019
Dr. Jones introduces Dr. Granville for the NAM Legacy Award at the National Association of Mathematicians, Inc. Golden Anniversary Celebration.
Upcoming Talks
Spring 2024
I"m excited to have had a full schedule of talks in 2023, I look forward to some exciting upcoming talks in spring 2024. Please email me for more details.
Backstory Video
Making of Women Who Count
This backstory video takes a look into the journey of Dr. Shelly M. Jones as she wrote the book - Women Who Count: Honoring African American Women Mathematicians. A children's activity book inspired by the movie Hidden Figures it includes the biographies of Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, and Dr. Christine Darden. Other mathematicians featured are Euphemia Lofton Haynes, Evelyn Boyd Granville and Marjorie Lee Browne.
Inspired By
From the Award-Winning Hidden Figures movie, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson (pictured), and Dorothy Vaughan are featured in this book. These women of NASA were pioneers of the space race in their roles as Human Computers.
The Mathematicians
The Firsts
Also featuring the first three African American women to receive doctorate degrees in mathematics, Drs. Martha Euphemia Lofton Haynes, Evelyn Boyd Granville, and Marjorie Lee Brown.
"Once you have learned to think as a mathematician, in a structured and strategic
manner, you can solve all kinds of problems. This activity book is the beginning toolbox
for aspiring problem solvers!"
Dr. Shree Whitaker Taylor
About the Author
Dr. Shelly M. Jones is an Associate Professor at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, Connecticut. She teaches undergraduate and graduate content, curriculum and methods courses. Her interests include culturally relevant mathematics, integrating elementary school mathematics and music, and the effects of college students’ attitudes and beliefs about mathematics on their success in college. Dr. Jones is a contributing co-author in The Brilliance of Black Children In Mathematics: Beyond The Numbers And Toward A New Discourse. She earned a doctorate in Mathematics Education from Illinois State University.
Dr. Shelly M. Jones
Get in touch with me for more information about this most important upcoming release.
