Terika Harris is a Doctoral Candidate in the Mathematics Education program, originally from Annapolis, Maryland. Prior to becoming a student at TC, Terika earned her Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Jacksonville University in 2012, and her Masters of Science in Mathematics from The Georgia Institute of Technology in 2015. Her research broadly focuses on the contributions of Black mathematicians to the field of mathematics, working under the supervision of past MST Department Chair Dr. Erica Walker.
Terika chose to pursue her doctoral studies at Teacher College because of her interest in working with Dr. Walker and her desire to live in New York City. After experiencing environments that were unsupportive of her as a Black woman in mathematics, Terika wanted to make change in the field by uplifting the contributions of Black mathematicians to the field. Reflecting on her experiences, she has stated, “I’ve taken 2 different history of math classes and none of them ever mentioned Black mathematicians. I was never taught in school about the rich history of Black mathematicians. I didn’t know that they existed.”
Terika was first introduced to the work of several Black mathematicians through Dr. Walker’s 2014 book Beyond Banneker: Black Mathematicians and the Paths to Excellence. Speaking to the legacy of Black American mathematician, astronomer, naturalist, and almanac author Benjamin Banneker, this book uses archival research and in-depth interviews with thirty mathematicians to broaden the knowledge base about mathematically successful African Americans. Terika has said that this book “opened up a new world,” helping her to realize that there was a long history of Black mathematicians who had paved the way for her. It also deepened her commitment to ensuring that future generations of Black students would not have to search so hard to see themselves in the field of mathematics.
Terika’s dissertation focuses specifically on the work of Dudley Weldon Woodard, the second African American to receive a PhD in mathematics. The study explores the life and career of Dr. Woodard, the establishment of the program in mathematics in the graduate school at Howard University, and Woodard’s contributions to the establishment of this program. In telling Woodard’s story, Terika’s dissertation also tells the stories of many other Black mathematicians and their journeys. This work is a case study that helps us to understand how to better support Black students of mathematics, particularly within higher education.
In addition to her dissertation work, Terika has also been a part of a team that assisted Dr. Erica Walker in a project celebrating the 50th anniversary of the National Association of Mathematicians (NAM). The team created a podcast episode about the experience, in collaboration with CMLTD Professor Lalitha Vasudevan and the Media and Social Change Lab (MASCLab). Since then, she has been working on a Storytelling in Math project which aims to expose teachers and students to a variety of images and diversity of models of mathematics. The project works to feature images of diverse people telling their stories about their doing and knowing of mathematics.
As she prepares to complete her doctoral studies, Terika remains committed to amplifying the voices of Black mathematicians. Her work fundamentally reshapes how their contributions are recognized within mathematics education. Through her research, advocacy, and mentorship, she hopes to create a future where Black students in mathematics feel seen, supported, and inspired to chart their own paths in the field.