Inclusiveness Mathematical Association of America

maa headquarters in washington, d.c.

the maa has long time followed strict policy of inclusiveness , non-discrimination.

in previous periods subject same problems of discrimination widespread across united states. 1 notorious incident @ south-eastern sectional meeting in nashville in 1951 has been documented mathematician , equal rights activist lee lorch, received highest honour of maa distinguished services mathematics. citation delivered @ 2007 maa awards presentation, lorch received standing ovation, recorded that:

lee lorch, chair of mathematics department @ fisk university, , 3 black colleagues, evelyn boyd (now granville), walter brown, , h. m. holloway came meeting , able attend scientific sessions. however, organizer closing banquet refused honor reservations of these 4 mathematicians. (letters in science, august 10, 1951, pp. 161–162 spell out details). lorch , colleagues wrote governing bodies of ams , maa seeking bylaws against discrimination. bylaws not changed, non-discriminatory policies established , have been strictly observed since then.

the association s first woman president dorothy lewis bernstein (1979–1980).