Fern Y Hunt

Fern Hunt was born to Daphne Lindsay and Thomas Edward Hunt.  Neither of her parents were mathematically inclined.  She has one sister, Erica Hunt, who is currently president of the 21st Century Foundation and a published poet and writer as well.  Her grandparents emigrated to the United States from Jamaica W.I. just before World War I seeking wider economic opportunities.

Her father did not finish high school, but her mom did attend Hunter College for two years during the depression but left when she could no longer afford the costs of higher education.  Her mom encouraged Hunt excel in school and to attend college.  As a result she was one of the first winners of the National Achievement Scholarship and she entered Bryn Mawr College graduating with a bachelor's degree in Mathematics.  After college she did her graduate studies at New York University's Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences where she earned a Masters and PhD degree in Mathematics.  Hunt has combined a research career in mathematics with service and outreach to the community.  Areas of research include fractals, biology and applications of probability theory.  After obtaining her graduate education, Hunt spent some years in academia at various institutions including City University of New York, University of Utah and Howard University.  She held visiting positions at the National Institutes of Health and the National Bureau of Standards.  In 2000, Fern Hunt was awarded the prestigious Arthur S. Flemming Award for Outstanding Federal Service.  It is given every year to 12 federal employees and 3 of them are in the scientific category.

Selected Honors:
Selected as a 2006 modern Leonardo by the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry
Spectrum Magazine Special Recognition for Minority Scientists- 2005
Invited one hour speaker at the American Mathematical Society meeting  2004
National Science Foundation Career Advancement Award 1989-1990
Black Achiever in Science (one of 16) Chicago Museum of Science and Industry -1988

Selected Professional and Service Activities:
Executive Committee, Association for Women in Mathematics 2002-
Advisory Board for EDGE (Enhancement of Diversity in Graduate Education) 2007-
Bryn Mawr College Board of Trustees 1992-2004
Department of Energy Biological and Energy Research Advisory Committee 1994-2000-