“If something is not clear to you, it is not your fault. It is my fault.”-said Professor Deborah Hughes Hallett. I completed a course (“Politics and Policies: What Data Can Tell Us?”) that she taught at Harvard Kennedy School. It was amazing to note her level of support to the students.
The course was about the use of statistics for public policy. Participating in the course was very thought provoking due to the case studies she included. The examples covered a wide range of topics (from vaccination to artificial intelligence), and focused on different types of discrimination based on race, religion, socio-economic status etc. The way it was taught made me think a lot about the social, political and economic justice issues in different parts of the world. I learnt to appreciate the power of data analysis for policy making. The intellectually stimulating discussions were enjoyable.
Professor Deborah Hughes Hallett was full of energy and open to learning. Once I was discussing with her some of my work on refugee rights and she expressed interest in receiving relevant documents. She wanted to explore if it was possible to prepare a case study.
Professor Deborah Hughes Hallett studied mathematics at a time when very few women were choosing Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) related subjects, and revolutionized the teaching of mathematics through her lifelong work. It has been an absolute privilege to be taught by her at Harvard. She will continue to inspire me in years to come.
“Deborah Hughes Hallett is Adjunct Professor of Public Policy and Professor of Mathematics at the University of Arizona. She graduated from Cambridge University in England and has taught at Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Turkey, and Universiti Brunei Darussalam. Her work is on strategies to improve the teaching of mathematics, and she is interested in promoting international cooperation between mathematicians. With Andrew Gleason at Harvard, she organized the Calculus Consortium for Higher Education and started a foundation to promote innovative curriculum and pedagogy. She has served on committees for the National Academy of Sciences and organized three international conferences on the teaching of mathematics. She is a fellow of the American Advancement of Science and the author or coauthor of seven books, which have been translated into several languages. Her work has been recognized by prizes from Harvard University, the University of Arizona, the Association for Women in Mathematics, and the Mathematical Association of America.”
(Source of bio: Harvard Kennedy School website)
