Broadening participation in the Mathematical Sciences

A major focus of my scholarly activity is the broadening of participation in the mathematical sciences. Primary activities include the AWM Travel and Mentoring Grant program and co-chairing the Infinite Possibilities Conference, a program of Building Diversity in Science, most recently hosted in collaboration with MSRI at Howard University in April 2018.

IPC 2012 at University of Maryland, Baltimore County

External Grants

  • National Science Foundation, “Timed for a Successful Career: NSF/AWM Travel Grants for Women in the Mathematical Sciences,” PI. With co-PIs Rebecca Garcia (Sam Houston State University), Pamela Harris (Williams College), Anna Mazzucato (Pennsylvania State University), and Shari Moskow (Drexel University). Division of Mathematical Sciences, July 2020-June 2023, $499,278.

  • National Science Foundation, “Timed for a Successful Career: NSF/AWM Travel Grants for Women in the Mathematical Sciences,” PI. With co-PIs Barbara Lee Keyfitz (The Ohio State University), Cathy Kessel (Illustrative Mathematics), Anna Mazzucato (Pennsylvania State University), and Shari Moskow (Drexel University). Division of Mathematical Sciences, September 2016-September 2019, no-cost extension through August 2021, $432,687.

  • National Science Foundation, “Infinite Possibilities Conference 2015,” Co-PI. With Thomas Dick (PI, Oregon State University) and Tanya Moore (City of Berkeley, CA), Division of Mathematical Sciences, Fall 2014 for 2015, $48,950.

  • National Security Agency, “Infinite Possibilities Conference 2015,” Co-PI. With Edray Goins (PI, Purdue University), Alejandra Alvarado (Eastern Illinois University), and Tanya Moore (City of Berkeley, CA), Summer 2014 for 2015, $25,000.

  • National Science Foundation, “Infinite Possibilities Conference 2012,” Co-PI. With Sue Minkoff (PI, University of Maryland) and Tanya Moore (City of Berkeley, CA), Division of Mathematical Sciences, Spring 2011 for 2012, $45,000.

  • National Security Agency, “Infinite Possibilities Conference 2012,” Co-PI. With Sue Minkoff (PI, University of Maryland), Leona Harris (The College of New Jersey), and Tanya Moore (City of Berkeley, CA), Summer 2011 for 2012, $49,000.

  • Mathematics Association of America Tensor Grant, “Women and Mathematics for Future Teachers,” course development grant, Co-PI. With Jackie Dewar (PI, LMU) and Alissa Crans (LMU), Spring 2008, renewed Spring 2009.


Bringing The Mathematics and Mathematicians Behind Hidden Figures to the Joint Math Meetings. In a collaboration between the AWM, Building Diversity in Science, the EDGE program, and NAM, with added support from the AMS, we were lucky to bring Christine Darden, formerly of NASA, and author Margot Lee Shetterly to the 2017 Joint Meetings. At Lee Shetterly's suggestion, Ulrica Wilson of Morehouse College shared the hidden mathematics of Dorothy Hoover. Read all about it in Edray Goins' blog for inclusion/exclusion, with additional coverage here (SIAM) and here (MAA Focus) and here (AMS blog).


Miscellaneous publications related to broadening participation

  • Khadjavi, L., Moore, T., and Weems, K., “The Infinite Possibilities Conference: Creating Moments of Belonging.” In Count Me In:  Community and Belonging in Mathematics, edited by D. Haunsberger and D. Dumbaugh, MAA press, American Mathematical Society, pp. 145-155, 2022.

  • Khadjavi, L., Malek-Madani, R., and Moore, T., “Navigating an Uncharted Path: The Life and Legacy of Dr. Gladys B. West.” Notices of the American Mathematical Society, Volume 68, Number 3, March 2021, pp. 357-364. Dr. West's work with satellite data was integral to developing a tool that many of us use every single day: GPS. Learn about her life and some of the technical challenges of geodesy, that is, estimating the shape of the earth precisely enough to navigate with satellite data. See doi.org/10.1090/noti2243.

  • Khadjavi, L., Moore, T., Weems, K., and Wilson, U. “Shining a light on a Hidden Figure: Dorothy Hoover.” Notices of the American Mathematical Society, Volume 67, Number 3, March 2020, pp. 368-372. Dorothy Hoover was noteworthy for her contributions to mathematics and aeronautics during a time of significant barriers for women and minorities in the United States. See Shining a light on a Hidden Figure: Dorothy Hoover.

  • Bryant, R., Buckmire, R., Khadjavi, L., and Lind, D. “The Origins of Spectra, an Organization for LGBT Mathematicians,” Notices of the American Mathematical Society, Volume 66, Number 6, June/July 2019, pp. 678-685. This paper discusses the history of Colorado's Amendment 2, the moving of the 1995 Joint Math Meetings, and the founding of Spectra, for LGBTQ+ mathematicians. See The Origins of Spectra, an Organization for LGBT Mathematicians.

  • Radunskaya, A. and Khadjavi, L., “Celebrating Maryam Mirzakhani,” European Women in Mathematics Newsletter, No. 29, 2017/2, pp. 23-26. www.europeanwomeninmaths.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/ewm-newsletter-issue29.pdf

  • Khadjavi, L., “Infinite Possibilities Conference: Women gather for inspiration and mathematics,” Association for Women in Mathematics Newsletter, Volume 38, No. 1, Jan-Feb 2008, pp. 9-13.

  • Khadjavi, L., “Infinite Possibilities Conference 2007,” National Association of Mathematicians, Volume XXXVIII, No. 2, Spring 2007, pp. 5-8.

  • Khadjavi, L., “Panel Discussion Spotlight: Mentoring Women in Mathematics.” Proceedings of the Infinite Possibilities Conference 2005: Celebrating and Promoting Diversity in Mathematical Sciences, (2006), pp. 37–39.

Other activities:

In the summer, you could often find me working with incoming Caltech students in the Freshman Summer Research Institute.