Brava

September 2012

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liveIn the Moment Brain Games While an undergradu- ate at Duke University, Matchett-Wood also par- ticipated in theatre, which allowed her to utilize a different side of her brain, a contrast she cherished. with Melanie Matchett-Wood A local mathematician joins an inspiring international movement Consider it a game of numbers: In a fi eld of study typically dominated by males, mathematician Melanie Matchett-Wood is making a name for herself. Th e energetic 30-year-old assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin- Madison discovered a love for math- ematics in middle school, and has been on a numerical journey ever since. It has taken her from small math competitions all the way to being the fi rst female to represent the United States at the Interna- tional Math Olympiad in 1998 and 1999 (where she took home two silver medals, by the way), to Madison where today she's teaching, collaborating on international research, and working to solve problems that have never before been answered. "I really like the creative process of trying to fi gure out a new way to solve a problem that no one before has solved," she says. "You have to fi gure out a way of thinking of things that no one has thought of before." Th ese days, Matchett-Wood's work doesn't end when she leaves the class- room. Th is year, she was selected as a "real role model" for the Dove Movement for Self-Esteem—a campaign highlighting the achievements of inspiring women in philanthropy, science, music and math- ematics. Machett-Wood was selected not only for her numerical acumen, but for overcoming the odds in her fi eld and her passion for inspiring young women. "I believe seeing examples of what's possible can really help [young women] reach their full potential," she says. Matchett-Wood admits she is still sur- prised to fi nd herself one of the sole females at math seminars and lectures. She uses the awe to fuel her work in the classroom and through the Dove campaign, sharing her story at events like the Girl Scouts Rock the Mall event in Washington, D.C., this past summer, as well as online. "I hope that [the campaign provides] just the starting point for [girls]...seeing what positive things women are doing, which can show [girls] the possibilities of what they can do in the world," she says. —Bess Donoghue September 2012 bravamagazine.com 11 Photo by Shanna Wolf

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