About the AWM

The Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM) is a non-profit organization founded in 1971.  The AWM currently has more than 3500 members representing a broad spectrum of the mathematical community — from the United States and around the world!

Since its founding in 1971 by a small but passionate group of women mathematicians, the Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM) has grown into a leading society for women in the mathematical sciences, and is one of the societies comprising the Conference Board of the Mathematical Sciences. AWM’s programs not only support those who participate in them directly, but also help influence the mathematics culture more generally, so that young women entering the field today encounter an environment that is more nurturing than that of the 1970’s and 1980’s. Throughout its 50 year History, the AWM has played a critical role in increasing the presence and visibility of women in the mathematical sciences.

Currently, there is a national dialogue around the lack of representation of women at the highest levels: across academia, government and industry, and from Wall Street to Silicon Valley. Diverse perspectives are necessary to solve complex problems in ethical ways that benefit all groups. Women can only move to these jobs if they have the right preparation, meaning they typically have moved through standard career pipelines, by which we are referring to a necessary sequence of education or jobs. AWM is focused on understanding the pipeline for women in mathematics. AWM recognizes that institutions like academia, government, and industry need to continue to review their organizational cultures and adjust their internal promotional practices, otherwise increases to the numbers of women who move through the career pipeline will still fail to affect the representation of women at the top. AWM’s work in continuing to foster and maintain the pool of talented female mathematicians is a key piece in bringing about these long-term goals.

Diversity and Welcoming Environment Statements

Mathematics in the U.S. has in large part flourished because of numerous contacts and collaborations with colleagues around the world. AWM members at all levels of their careers have benefited greatly from these interactions, both here in the U.S. as well as in other countries. Many of our most inspirational mathematicians have immigrated to the U.S. and made this country their home.  The AWM is committed to sustaining an international mathematical environment and we affirm the importance of policies that ensure open scientific borders. We encourage our community to give our international students and colleagues our fullest support, and we oppose policies that hinder the free flow of ideas. To learn more, see AWM’s Diversity Statement and Welcoming Environment Statement.

Diversity and Inclusion Task Force

 In spring 2018, the AWM leadership formed a task force whose charge included to “understand and improve how AWM functions, and to consider new initiatives that would promote inclusivity in our organization.” The task force was asked to read background documents; gather input from AWM leadership and membership as well as the broader mathematical community; and to engage in directed discussion that would lead to a report with recommendations to be prepared for the AWM Executive Committee. Here is the final report of the task force. See also the AWM Stem Inclusion Study.

The Diversity Task Force Action Plan can be found here.

Join Us

The AWM exists because of our generous members, volunteers, donors, sponsors, partner societies, and friends of AWM.  Learn more about those working on meaningful projects, and let us know how you would like to get involved.