Leona Harris

Leona Ann Harris is an American mathematician who is the Director of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) at the American Mathematical Society (AMS). She was the executive director of the National Association of Mathematicians (NAM) from 2019 to 2022.

Education and career Harris earned a bachelor of science degree in mathematics from Spelman College in 1995, graduating magna cum laude. In 2001, she earned her doctorate in applied mathematics from the North Carolina State University with the dissertation Differential Equation Models for the Hormonal Regulation of the Menstrual Cycle under the advisement of James Francis Selgrade. Harris has been on the faculty at Bennett College, The College of New Jersey, Georgetown University, Marymount University, and the University of the District of Columbia. Harris had the rank of associate professor at The College of New Jersey and at the University of the District of Columbia where she also served as chair of the Division of Sciences and Mathematics. She was an instructor for the EDGE program in 2008 and 2018 which helps women get advanced degrees in mathematics and was co-editor of the book A Celebration of the EDGE Program’s Impact on the Mathematics Community and Beyond published by Springer in 2019. In 2022, Harris was chosen to give the Etta Z. Falconer Lecture at Spelman College; the title of her lecture was The Making of a Mathematician Through Inspiration, Empowerment, and Mentorship: Reflections on My Mathematical Journey. Edwards has a PhD in Industrial & Systems Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.