Dr. Gloria Ford Gilmer wasn’t just a mathematician—she was a visionary who proved that math isn’t confined to textbooks or chalkboards.
It’s braided into our hair, stitched into our quilts, and echoed in our everyday traditions.
As the first African American woman to publish mathematical research in a peer-reviewed journal, Gilmer shattered barriers. But her real genius lay in her ability to see math as a cultural experience, especially for Black communities.
Her groundbreaking studies in ethnomathematics explored the geometry, symmetry, and pattern logic in hair braiding, quilting, and everyday designs—empowering young Black students to see that their culture was already mathematical.
Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Gilmer earned her B.S. in mathematics from Morgan State University, co-authoring two academic papers while still a student. After earning an M.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, raising a family, and teaching in public schools and colleges across the country, she earned her Ph.D. from Marquette University in her 60s—proving it’s never too late to break new ground.
Gilmer made history as:
- The first Black female board member of the Mathematical Association of America
- A U.S. Army mathematician specializing in exterior ballistics
- A co-founder and president of the International Study Group on Ethnomathematics
- A leader in STEM equity initiatives across the Department of Education and beyond
From the 1980s through the ’90s, Gilmer was instrumental in making math more inclusive. She spearheaded projects to bring real-world, culturally relevant mathematics into classrooms, including dramatizations that revealed subtle gender bias in math spaces.
In 2021, her legacy was cemented when the American Mathematical Society established the Claytor-Gilmer Fellowship, awarding $50,000 annually to support excellence among Black mathematicians. The award honors both Gilmer and Dr. William Claytor, another pioneer who paved the way in mathematical research.
Dr. Gilmer’s message was clear:
“Math is everywhere—especially in us.”
Her work continues to inspire generations of students, educators, and scholars who now see culture not as separate from STEM, but as its heartbeat.
For an in-depth tribute, read:
“The Unfailing Optimism of Dr. Gloria Ford Gilmer” by Tanya Moore and Josh Levy in the March 2024 issue of Notices of the American Mathematical Society.
