2025 Theses Doctoral

Dudley Weldon Woodard and the Graduate Program in Mathematics at Howard University

Harris, Terika

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) graduate a large number of Black students who receive graduate degrees in science, engineering, technology, and mathematics (STEM) (Einaudi et al., 2022; Cooper, 2004; National Science Foundation, 2008; Shuler et al., 2022; Upton & Tanenbaum, 2014). Researchers have examined this phenomenon to better understand how these mathematics departments prepare their student’s for PhDs in mathematics.

Howard University has a long history of supporting Black students and Faculty. Howard is among the top HBCUs to produce Black students who go on to receive PhDs in mathematics (Einaudi et al., 2022) and the mathematics department at Howard was well known for doing advanced mathematics during the early parts of the twentieth century (Donaldson & Fleming, 2000; Parshall, 2016; Walker, 2014). Mathematician and mathematics educator Dudley Weldon Woodard (1881-1965), the second African American to earn a PhD in mathematics spent the second half of his career at Howard University and was instrumental in the development of graduate studies at Howard, though not much is known about his life and career. By exploring both Woodard’s life and career we understand better the foundational impact he had on Howard University’s mathematics department and support of Black students in mathematics.

This dissertation is a historical case study which examines the life and career of mathematician Dudley Weldon Woodard and his involvement in the establishment of graduate work at Howard University. With the use of archival documents like governmental records, course catalogs, commencement programs, yearbooks, and newspapers, this study weaves together the details of Woodard’s early life, education and early career all of which led him to Howard University. This study also examines Woodard’s contributions to the establishment of the masters program in mathematics at Howard University and his mentorship of students in the program. Woodard was instrumental in formalizing graduate studies throughout Howard University. His commitment and leadership laid a strong foundation for the mathematical sciences at Howard University and beyond, by seeding teachers, faculty, and researchers in the mathematical sciences whose contributions are still felt today.