Evelynn M. Hammonds

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Evelynn Hammonds, March 2017

Evelynn M. Hammonds is an American historian of science and professor known for her work on the intersections of race, gender, and science. She is a prominent figure in the field of history of science and has made significant contributions to the understanding of how race and gender have influenced scientific knowledge and practices.

Early Life and Education

Evelynn M. Hammonds was born in Atlanta, Georgia. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in physics from Spelman College and a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology. She later received a Master of Science degree in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Hammonds then shifted her focus to the history of science, earning a Ph.D. in the subject from Harvard University.

Academic Career

Hammonds began her academic career as a faculty member at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where she taught courses on the history of science, technology, and medicine. She later joined the faculty at Harvard University, where she became the Barbara Gutmann Rosenkrantz Professor of the History of Science and of African and African American Studies.

At Harvard, Hammonds has held several administrative positions, including serving as the Dean of Harvard College from 2008 to 2013. She was the first African American and the first woman to hold this position. During her tenure, she focused on improving the undergraduate experience and addressing issues of diversity and inclusion.

Research and Contributions

Hammonds' research explores the complex relationships between race, gender, and science. She has written extensively on the history of African American scientists and the role of race in scientific research. Her work has highlighted the ways in which scientific practices and knowledge production have been shaped by social and cultural factors.

One of her notable works is the book The Nature of Difference: Sciences of Race in the United States from Jefferson to Genomics, which she co-edited. This book examines the historical development of scientific ideas about race in the United States and their impact on contemporary scientific practices.

Awards and Honors

Evelynn M. Hammonds has received numerous awards and honors for her contributions to the history of science and her efforts to promote diversity in academia. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and has been recognized by various organizations for her work in advancing the understanding of race and gender in science.

Selected Publications

• The Nature of Difference: Sciences of Race in the United States from Jefferson to Genomics (co-edited)
• Childhood's Deadly Scourge: The Campaign to Control Diphtheria in New York City, 1880-1930

See Also

• History of science
• Race and science
• Gender and science
• African American scientists