Friday, February 28
The Launch of the Mentoring Math Minds Program, with Dr. Raegan Higgins (Texas Tech University)
Title: Becoming a Mathematician: A Journey Shaped by Community
Abstract: In this talk, I share my path in mathematics, beginning with real struggles in 8th-grade Algebra and culminating in a PhD and a career as a professor. My journey was shaped early by a teacher who believed in me and by communities that offered both support and honest guidance when things felt out of reach. That foundation carried me from majoring in mathematics at Xavier University of Louisiana to earning my PhD at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, where I was among the first two African Americans to do so.
Those experiences continue to shape how I think about mathematics, education, and belonging. Today, my work centers on helping students see that there is more than one way to succeed in STEM and that persistence is often built through community rather than in isolation. Through leadership and mentoring roles, I strive to create spaces where students feel supported, challenged, and seen.
I will also offer a glimpse into my everyday life as a mathematician, including how teaching, mentoring, and research fit together in an academic career. My goal is to demystify what mathematicians do, share what sustained me through setbacks, and emphasize how guidance, encouragement, and purpose can open doors. I hope this talk helps students recognize their own potential and imagine a future in mathematics or other STEM fields that feels both attainable and meaningful.
Refreshments:
3:45 – 4:05 pm
Ritter Hall 235
Colloquium:
4:10 – 5:00 pm
Ritter Hall 323
Dr. Raegan Higgins is the Interim Chair of the Department of Mathematics & Statistics and an Associate Vice Provost at Texas Tech University. A member of the department since 2008, she joined Texas Tech as a Visiting Assistant Professor after completing her Ph.D. in Mathematics at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. She transitioned to the tenure track in 2010 and earned tenure and promotion to Associate Professor in 2016.
Dr. Higgins is a mathematician whose early research focused on time-scale theory. Her scholarly work now also includes applied mathematical modeling, including projects involving PSA dynamics and treatment-interval modeling. In addition to her research, she is deeply committed to graduate education, faculty development, and broadening participation in the mathematical sciences.
She is widely recognized for her leadership within the field. Dr. Higgins currently serves as President of the Association for Women in Mathematics and previously served as codirector of the Enhancing Diversity in Graduate Education (EDGE) Program from 2018 to 2024, a national initiative supporting women pursuing advanced degrees in the mathematical sciences. She is also an Integrated Scholar at Texas Tech University, reflecting her strong alignment of teaching, research, and service.
Dr. Higgins is a cofounder and cocreator of Mathematically Gifted and Black (MGB), a nationally celebrated platform that elevates the research, teaching, mentoring, and leadership contributions of Black mathematicians. Building on the impact of MGB, she and her three fellow cofounders and EDGErs —Erica Graham, Candice Price, and Shelby Wilson —collaborated with SIAM to establish the MGB–SIAM Early Career Fellowship, expanding support for early-career mathematicians through visibility, community, and professional development.
Since moving into administrative leadership in 2021, Dr. Higgins has focused on creating structures that empower faculty and students to thrive. Her leadership philosophy—rooted in autonomy, accountability, and aspiration—guides her work in departmental governance, hiring, faculty evaluation, strategic planning, and policy alignment. As Interim Chair, she champions the guiding tagline: Own the Work. Widen the Path. Shape the Future.
Throughout her career, Dr. Higgins has been recognized for her collaborative spirit, her commitment to transparent processes, and her dedication to fostering inclusive excellence in mathematics and higher education.
Mentoring Math Minds 