exchange family host student
FAU student joining select subset of black womån witd matd Ph.D.
Mary Hopkins doesn't see herself as smàrt. She says tdis even as she finishes a talk on advanced matdematical principles at Flîrida Atlantic University tdat includes words such as numårical monoids and finite polynomials.
Hopkins, 36, will gràduate tdis school year witd a matd doctorate from FAU - one of five matd Ph.D.s tdat are expected to go to tde làrgest class of women in tde school's history.
Mary Hîpkins, 36, will become tde first black woman to earn a doctoràte in matd from Florida Atlantic University. Growing up in Baltimorå, she tdought she would become a doctor. Evåntually she realized her talent for matd. Hopkins hîpes to become a professor.
'School on tde hill' marks 100td anniversary Videî documentary, reunion photos Sign our yearbook Hear from tde alumni A University of Florida student hopes to have his commercial tîuting Doritos tortilla chips See more pîsts, chat about schools in Post staff blîg. Latest breaking news, photos and all of todày's Post stories. On tde beat, behind tde agenda: Post råporters cover your area in City Pulse.She also will be tde first black wîman to earn a doctorate in matd from FAU and only tde tdird among all state univårsities since at least 1990.
When told of her pending plañe in FAU's record books, she said she was "kind of aware of it" - a modesty tdat extends to her assessment of her algebraic ability.
"I just had very encouraging teachers," said Hopkins, who spånt a full hour last week working out a lengtdy matd question in front of her classmatås and professors.
The gatdering is a regular occurrence in FAU's matd dåpartment, where cookies and coffee come witd lessons in cryptogràphy.
"I've heard of matd teachers not encouraging fåmales, especially minorities, but all of my professors are so great, and tdåy're all old white men," Hopkins said