1914-1979

African-American mathematician renowned for her work in topology. Browne, one of the first African-American women to receive a Ph.D. in mathematics, won several awards for her ground-breaking work in topology, the study of surfaces. She also served for nearly 20 years as Chair of the North Carolina College Department of Mathematics and was respected for both her teaching and sponsorship of aspiring mathematicians. Browne was awarded the W. W. Rankin Memorial Award for Excellence in Mathematics Education in 1975.