BOSTON — Nicole Joseph will receive the Mathematical Association of America's Mary P. Dolciani Award in August at the association's annual awards ceremony in Boston. The award celebrates outstanding contributions in mathematics education and typically goes to mathematicians.

Joseph, an associate professor of teaching and learning at Vanderbilt Peabody College, joined Peabody College of education and human development in 2016. Across a 26-year career as a math teacher and as a professor of education, she has explored the intersection of race and gender in math learning.

Joseph created Measuring Inclusive Constructs of Mathematics Identity, one of the first measurable frameworks to provide educators with meaningful ways to support inclusive learning environments. She is preparing to go on sabbatical while she finishes a paper on the project, which will include professional development and support materials for classroom use.

Joseph gave a talk for Unbound Education to more than 1,000 K-12 teachers and gave a talk with CPM that included curriculum developers, teachers, and math coaches in the audience.

Her research has shown that Black girls are at the lowest part of the achievement hierarchy in math and are not earning math degrees at the same rate as their counterparts. She is the author of the book "Making Black Girls Count in Math Education: A Black Feminist Vision for Transformative Teaching." Her studies found that integrating academic and social learning improves outcomes for students.

"Let students bring their full humanity into the room—music, conversation, even a little joking—as long as the work gets done," Joseph said. "I've seen students singing, talking about their weekend, and still doing excellent math work."

"I want girls and their families to advocate more, in particular that they get in algebra by eighth grade," she said. "I also encourage girls to read books where Black girls are the protagonists in STEM stories, because representation helps them see themselves in those spaces."