The Math Path: From Middle School to STEM Careers

Throughout their educational and career journeys, girls and women are systematically tracked away from math and science. Research shows that this begins as early as middle school, when girls start to lose confidence in their ability to do math – and consequently lose interest in math. The situation only intensifies throughout high school. By the time they are ready to select a college major, girls are equally prepared educationally to pursue math and science, but few choose to do so. For example, only 20% of bachelor’s degrees in math, engineering, and computer science are earned by women. Women make up only 28% of the STEM workforce, and only 22.5% of individuals working in computer and mathematical occupations are women.

However, the number of girls achieving very high scores on mathematics tests suggests that cultural factors and stereotypes contribute to this situation. In the 1990s, there were 13 boys for every girl who scored above 700 on the SAT math exam at age 13; today that ratio has shrunk to about 3:1. This increase in the number of girls identified as “mathematically gifted” suggests that education and encouragement can and do make a difference at the highest levels of mathematical achievement. Research shows that stereotypes about girls being "bad at math" persist, but changes in the learning environment can improve their achievement in math. For example, when test administrators tell students that girls and boys are equally capable in math, performance differences essentially disappear. 

While the foundation for STEM is laid in middle and high school, scientists and mathematicians are made in college; universities can employ strategies such as “flipping” introductory math courses and offering mentoring and support services to encourage more girls to major in math and the sciences and pursue careers in these areas. 

The Math Path is a comprehensive suite of support programs aimed at encouraging girls to love math through middle and high school, major in math in college, and purse careers in the knowledge industries that utilize mathematical skills. Developed and implemented by Dr. Mina Teicher – one of the world’s leading mathematicians – the program empowers women and girls in mathematics at every stage of their educational development.

The Math Path begins in middle school with Math is Fun, aimed at raising curiosity toward math among all learners. The Girls are for STEM initiative addresses the “leaking pipeline” in high school. In partnership with the Miami-Dade County Public Schools and private high schools, the University of Miami Department of Mathematics provides advanced math classes for university credit to female high school juniors and seniors who have demonstrated proficiency and interest in math. At the college level (University of Miami and across the Hemisphere), Math is for the Future integrates female undergraduate students into the world of mathematics through invitations to conferences and seminars, introductions to leading mathematicians, and intensive mentoring. Math is Everywhere also serves female college students interested in majoring in math and pursuing advanced degrees or careers built on math. 

At the same time, the Department is focused on increasing the number of female faculty and the number of lectures and special events led by female mathematicians. This includes lectures in mathematics, lectures reflecting the beauty of mathematics, lectures on contemporary applications of mathematics, and lectures on math education, all addressed to a general scientific audience. 

Finally, the Department is collaborating with institutions across the world (the Bulgarian Academy’s “For Women in Science” and multiple universities in Latin America) to support postdoctoral research for women with PhDs in math; this is an essential step for advancement in academic careers.

The Math Path serves female students who are interested in pursuing careers in mathematics or scientific/knowledge-based careers with a math foundation. By providing confidence-building programming, academic support and opportunities, mentoring, cohort-building, and career development opportunities, the Math Path lights the way to fulfilling employment in STEM fields.

Deep stereotypes about girls/women in math and science persist at all levels. People more likely to associate math and science with boys/men, and some people hold negative views of women who pursue careers that are viewed as “masculine” like scientists or engineers.  The Math Path works to counteract these negative stereotypes and implicit bias.

Additionally, the program provides academic support and opportunities that would otherwise be unavailable to participants; this is especially true for those high-school girls who attend larger public schools and/or schools with fewer academic and financial resources, where personalized support is less accessible. Finally, at the collegiate and post-collegiate level, strong mentoring is provided to help participants navigate the challenges they may face in a field of study that is known to be difficult and where female students are the distinct minority.

Taken as a spectrum of programming, the Math Path represents a comprehensive and ongoing guide from middle school to career achievement.

Dr. Mina Teicher is one of the world’s leading and best-known mathematicians. She is living proof that women can achieve the highest levels of success in mathematics, and can define the field with their research. Dr. Teicher is Professor of Mathematics and Neuroscience, with an international reputation in algebraic geometry, computer vision, cryptography, cyber security, computational neuroscience, complex systems and mathematical education.

She has given lectures and keynotes in many prestigious platforms and universities worldwide including Columbia, Yale, Chicago, Miami, NYU, Pisa, MPI-Bonn, MPI-Leiptzig, Shanghai, Canberra, Buenos Aires, Quito, Wits, Pretoria, Hong Kong, Moscow, Sofia and more. She was the inaugural Emmy Noether Visiting Professor at the University of Göttingen.

She has held leadership positions in academia and government, including Vice President for Research and Development of Bar-Ilan University, founder of the biggest Brain Research Center in Israel, Chief Scientist of the Israel Ministry of Science and Technology, Chair of the Board of Governors of the United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation, Chair of the Israel National Committee for International R&D, and an Israeli delegate to the International Mathematical Union. Currently, she is a member of the National Council for R&D of Israeli government, Vice President (and Founding member) of the UNESCO Digital Campus for Complex Systems, among other roles.

Dr. Teicher leads WIMSA - Advancing Women in Mathematics Across the Americas in the University of Miami Department of Mathematics. WIMSA is part of the Institute of the Mathematical Sciences of the Americas, which aims to foster and facilitate research in math and its applications across the Americas, disseminate mathematical advances, and build national and international capacity in the math workforce.

100 female students from high school through post-graduate

The University of Miami Department of Mathematics has developed an effective and creative approach to supporting girls and women in math across the education and career path. Our programming runs from middle school through post-doctoral education, and it is having a transformative impact on female students in South Florida.

We are seeking funding, advice, and connections trough the Challenge to help us: refine our programming as needed, identify the best way to scale/expand while maintaining the high quality of the services offered, integrate technology into the Math Path and determine how we can leverage technology to increase the impact of the program, and take the first steps to bring the Math Path to other communities across the United States, in Latin America, and beyond.

Dr. Teicher brings international experience and global sensibilities to the Math Path. This perspective is very important in South Florida, where over 50% of residents were born outside of the United States. In our community, it is important to provide interventions in a way that is culturally sensitive and competent. Dr. Teicher’s expertise allows her to do so.

Additionally, she can leverage the expertise of the Institute of the Mathematical Sciences of the Americas, which brings a hemispheric focus to mathematical research and applications, and capacity-building for the future of mathematics.

Finally and most importantly, Dr. Teicher is an outstanding role model for future female mathematicians. She is brilliant, articulate, innovative, warm, outgoing, welcoming, creative, glamorous – a true leader and force of nature. It is aspirational for participants in the Math Path to see her many accomplishments.

The Math Path takes a comprehensive and long-term approach to supporting girls and women in pursuing education and careers in mathematics. This model could be widely implemented in schools and colleges across the United States and the world.

Our impact goals are to continue our spectrum of services at all grade and educational levels, recruit more girls and women to join the program, and increase outreach in Miami schools and beyond.

We will do so by refining our programming, deepening partnerships with the schools, integrating technology into the Math Path to improve services and expand scope/reach, and tracking program participants to demonstrate impact. 

Indicators are:

• Participation in all aspects of the program.
• Grades in mathematics.
• Decision to major in math or another STEM area.
• Decision to pursue a career in math or another STEM area.

The Math Path will have an impact by increasing the number of women in STEM and math fields. By providing supportive services, academic opportunities, and mentoring, it will encourage women and girls to pursue these professions.

The program is based on evidence-based research. We hope to identify ways to leverage technology in support of the Math Path.

Dr. Teicher is the only full-time staff member, but she works closely with faculty and graduate students of the University of Miami Department of Mathematics to implement the Math Path.

Three years

WIMSA deeply values diversity and serves all students regardless of race, ethnicity, country of origin, language, or access to resources. We work hard to ensure that our programs are culturally sensitive, linguistically appropriate, and evidence-based. This includes engaging students and mentors who are fluent in Spanish and/or Creole, and identify with racial, ethnic, and/or sexual minority groups. We regularly collect feedback from students, parents/caregivers, teachers, and others to ensure that our programming is meeting needs and respecting cultural norms. 

The University of Miami is committed to a culture of belonging and our values of diversity, integrity, responsibility, excellence, compassion, creativity, and teamwork. We are committed to strengthening the intellectual, cultural, and economic life of the communities of South Florida and the world by fostering respect for the differences among people, the nurturing of curiosity, the insistence upon high standards of thought, study, communication, and skills. 

We provide a spectrum of services to girls and women interested in mathematics through in-school and after-school/weekend programming.

Philanthropic funding and support from the University of Miami.

We have received individual philanthropic support for the Math Path. The Institute for Mathematical Sciences of the Americas is funded by the Simons Foundation.