Honoring a Professor, Remembering His Mom

It is widely known that there’s historically been a significant underrepresentation of women working in STEM fields. Even today in the United States, only 25.2 percent of employees in mathematical occupations are women. Northeastern Professor Emeritus of Mathematics Lakshmibai Venkatramani was one of the inspiring women who helped pave the way to a more inclusive STEM workforce.

Venkatramani was born in 1944 in a remote, small town in southern India. She was always good at math, even as a young girl, but faced the obstacle of societal expectations when it came to pursuing a career in the field. At the time, women were expected to marry and become housewives.

“In the 1970s, being a mathematician as a woman was very difficult. Even today it’s difficult, you’re very much a minority,” says Girish Venkataramani, Venkatramani’s son. “But back then in India, it was unheard of.”

While Venkatramani did get married, she never gave up on her love for math, earning her PhD while pregnant with Girish. She then resumed her career and followed her passions, leaving India to teach in Europe and later in America.

Venkatramani joined Northeastern’s mathematics department in 1987, teaching undergraduate and graduate classes and tackling algebraic geometry and representation theory research. Her work was widely published, and she was highly sought after to present at prestigious conferences.

Before retiring in 2019, Venkatramani dedicated her time to being a role model and mentor, especially to young women studying math. She built meaningful relationships with many students as a professor and advisor, and helped shape their careers outside of the classroom. She even inspired several of her students to become professors themselves.

Venkatramani passed away in 2023, but the impact she left on her students, Northeastern, and the mathematics community endures. As a world-renowned female mathematician, she inspired women everywhere by excelling in a traditionally male-dominated field. “She loved teaching and doing research,” says Girish. “It was through mathematics that she lived her life.”

In honor of his mother’s achievements, Girish established the Lakshmibai Venkatramani Fund for Math Graduate Students. The fund supports a fellowship that celebrates Venkatramani’s life, and her role in elevating women and people from diverse backgrounds to pursue careers in mathematics. The fellowship will be awarded to a graduate student pursuing a graduate assistantship in the math department, or to a mathematics graduate student who desires to attend professional development opportunities.

“It’s a way to remember my mom and continue her legacy,” says Girish. “Nothing more than math has been the love of her life, and I want to give the younger generations, especially students who are underprivileged, the opportunity to accomplish as much as my mom did during her life.”