Talithia Williams is a recipient of the 2024 Distinguished Alumni Awards. She was one of four Rice University engineering alumni honored this spring as part of the Laureates Awards Program by the Association of Rice Alumni.
Williams is an associate professor of mathematics and director of the Mathematics Clinic at Harvey Mudd College. She is the first Black woman tenured at the institution.
As a researcher, Williams has worked with the World Health Organization to develop a cataract model that improves predictions for cataract surgical rates in African countries.
Williams has also been recognized by the Joint Policy Board for Mathematics for making mathematics and statistics accessible to millions through her work as a TV host, renowned speaker, and author of the book “Power in Numbers: The Rebel Women of Mathematics.” She is nationally known for her TED Talk, “Own Your Body’s Data,” in which she equips a mass audience to use statistics — by measuring and recording simple data daily — to take ownership of their health.
Willaims earned her master’s and doctoral degrees in statistics from Rice in 2007 and 2008, respectively. Her Ph.D. thesis was titled Real-Time Estimation of Rainfall: A Dynamic Spatio-Temporal Model. Professor Ensor was her advisor.
- Shawn Hutchins, Communications and Marketing Specialist
