Francesca Bernardi and Katrina Morgan founded Girls Talk Math at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2016. In 2018 the program expanded to the University of Maryland at College Park thanks to Sarah C. Burnett and Victoria Whitley. In 2022, Francesca started a third chapter at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. The most recent addition to the Girls Talk Math program debuted in 2024 at Wake Forest University thanks to Claudia Falcon.

Mission and Philosophy

The goal of Girls Talk Math is to make advanced mathematics accessible to high school students through a free educational summer program. Campers with an interest in mathematics work with their peers to tackle challenging problems and learn how to effectively communicate their work.

Our approach is based in an understanding of the barriers preventing young women from entering mathematical fields, including a failure to see themselves represented among mathematicians, lack of confidence in their abilities, and less encouragement from peers and teachers. The myth that mathematics has historically been done only by men can contribute to internalized beliefs that women are less capable of success in these careers. In researching the lives and work of a wide range of mathematicians who have made significant contributions to the field, students will see their own potential to have careers in mathematics. We aim to increase confidence by giving students a voice and a platform to be heard through the podcast series available through iTunes and SoundCloud. During the camp weeks we bring local students and instructors together, building a supportive and inclusive community of peers and mentors.

Meet the Founders

Francesca Bernardi

Francesca is an Assistant Professor of Mathematical Sciences at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. She is affiliated with Mechanical Engineering, Physics, and Gender, Sexuality & Women’s Studies. She received her Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2018. While at Chapel Hill, she also received a Graduate Certificate in Women’s and Gender Studies focusing on underrepresented minorities in STEM. Find out more about Francesca’s work and interests at www.fbernardi.info.

Katrina Morgan

Katrina is an Assistant Professor of Mathematics at Temple University. She received her Ph.D. in Pure Mathematics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2019. Learn more about her work and interests at www.morgank.info.

Funding

Girls Talk Math programs have been financially supported by the local departments and institutions as well as several national and local grant programs. These include the Mathematical Association of America Tensor Women and Mathematics Grant, the Mathematical Association of America Tensor SUMMA Grant, and the American Mathematical Society Young Scholars Program.