Omayra Ortega is an American

mathematician A mathematician is someone who uses an extensive knowledge of mathematics in their work, typically to solve mathematical problems. Mathematicians are concerned with numbers, data, quantity, structure, space, models, and change. History On ...

, specializing in mathematical epidemiology. Ortega is an associate professor of mathematics & statistics at

Sonoma State University Sonoma State University (SSU, Sonoma State, or Sonoma) is a public university in Rohnert Park in Sonoma County, California, US. It is one of the smallest members of the California State University (CSU) system. Sonoma State offers 92 Bachelor's d ...

Sonoma County, California Sonoma County () is a county (United States), county located in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 United States Census, its population was 488,863. Its county seat and largest city is Santa Rosa, California, Santa Rosa. It is to the n ...

, and the president of the

National Association of Mathematicians The National Association of Mathematicians is a professional association for mathematicians in the US, especially African Americans and other minorities. It was founded in 1969.

(NAM).

Early life and education

Ortega was born in

Far Rockaway, Queens, New York Far Rockaway is a neighborhood on the eastern part of the Rockaway, Queens, Rockaway peninsula in the New York City borough (New York City), borough of Queens. It is the easternmost section of the Rockaways. The neighborhood extends from Beach 3 ...

. Her parents are originally from Panama. Omayra Ortega received bachelor's degrees in mathematics and music from

Pomona College Pomona College ( ) is a private liberal arts college in Claremont, California. It was established in 1887 by a group of Congregationalists who wanted to recreate a "college of the New England type" in Southern California. In 1925, it became ...

in 2001. She pursued graduate studies at the

University of Iowa The University of Iowa (UI, U of I, UIowa, or simply Iowa) is a public university, public research university in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. Founded in 1847, it is the oldest and largest university in the state. The University of Iowa is org ...

, where she earned a master's degree in 2005 and a PhD in 2008, both in the "Applied Mathematics & Computational Science" program, as well as a Master's in Public Health degree in 2005. Her dissertation was on mathematical epidemiology, titled "Evaluation of ''Rotavirus'' models with coinfection and vaccination"; her advisers were Herbert W. Hethcote and Tong Li.

Career

In 2006 Ortega became an instructor of applied mathematics at

Arizona State University Arizona State University (Arizona State or ASU) is a public research university in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Founded in 1885 by the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature, ASU is one of the largest public universities by enrollment in the ...

and was promoted to assistant professor after she received her PhD in 2008. In 2017 Ortega became a visiting assistant professor of mathematics at her undergraduate institution

. In 2018 she became an assistant professor of mathematics and statistics at

. She is currently an Associate Professor and Assistant Dean of Research and Internships in the School of Science and Technology. Ortega became the president of the National Association of Mathematicians, NAM, on February 1, 2021. Previously, she was the editor-in-chief of the NAM editorial board to the

Mathematical Association of America The Mathematical Association of America (MAA) is a professional society that focuses on mathematics accessible at the undergraduate level. Members include university, college, and high school teachers; graduate and undergraduate students; pure a ...

''MathValues'' blog, as well as editor of the NAM Newsletter. and chair of the NAM Publicity and Publications Committee from 2018 to 2021. Ortega has been featured in the

PBS The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American public broadcasting, public broadcaster and Non-commercial activity, non-commercial, Terrestrial television, free-to-air television network based in Arlington, Virginia. PBS is a publicly fu ...

show

SciGirls ''SciGirls'' is an American live-action/animated children's television series that premiered on February 11, 2010 on PBS Kids. It has a mix of live-action and animated segments. It is produced by Twin Cities PBS and builds on the "real kids doin ...

Awards and recognition

In 2020 Ortega was named an

Association for Women in Mathematics The Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM) is a professional society whose mission is to encourage women and girls to study and to have active careers in the mathematical sciences, and to promote equal opportunity for and the equal treatment o ...

(AWM) Service Award recipient. She was also recognized by

Mathematically Gifted & Black Mathematically Gifted & Black (MGB) is a website that features the accomplishments of black scholars in mathematical sciences. In addition to highlighting the work and lives of established mathematicians in the African Diaspora, the platform aims ...

as a Black History Month 2020 Honoree. In 2023, she became an AWM fellow "for her dedication to providing opportunities for under-represented groups, especially women and girls, to become involved in and advance in the mathematical sciences; for her outreach work at regional and national levels; for being an exceptional mentor and role model; and for her commitment to advancing the mission of AWM."

Personal life

Ortega trains in

Capoiera Capoeira () is an Afro-Brazilian martial art that combines elements of dance, acrobatics, music and spirituality. Born of the melting pot of enslaved Africans, Indigenous Brazilians and Portuguese influences at the beginning of the 16th century ...

References

External links

Omayra Ortega's Professional Website

Meet a Mathematician! video interview
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ortega, Omayra Living people 21st-century American mathematicians African-American mathematicians American women mathematicians African-American women academics 21st-century African-American academics 21st-century American academics Pomona College alumni Pomona College faculty Year of birth missing (living people) 21st-century African-American women Fellows of the Association for Women in Mathematics 21st-century American women academics