Dr. Euphemia Lofton Haynes (September 11, 1890- July 25, 1980) was a mathematician, educator, and the first African-American woman to earn a PhD in Mathematics. Born and raised in Washington D.C, Haynes grew up in a well-educated and affluent family as the daughter of a dentist and schoolteacher. She obtained a BA (1914) in Mathematics with a Minor in Psychology from Smith College, MA (1930) in Education from the University of Chicago, and PhD (1943) in Mathematics from Catholic University of America (CUA). After being awarded her MA, she went on to establish the math department at Miner Teachers College, now known as the University of District of Columbia.
Dr. Haynes became heavily involved within the D.C education system as a teacher for grade and high school students, and advocating for African-Americans and desegregation. She was the first woman to Chair the D.C. Board of Education, ended the system of tracking, and served as Chair of the Division of Mathematics and Business Education at District of Columbia’s Teachers College.
A devout catholic, Haynes also served on the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women and co-founded the Catholic Interracial Council of the District of Columbia, and was awarded the Papal Medal, the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice in 1959. She was elected a fellow of the Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) (1962). She passed away in 1980 at the age of 89. Her will left money to Catholic University that was used to establish an endowed chair in the Department of Education.
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