We are proud to recognize Dr. Suzanne Lenhart, a dedicated AAUW Knoxville Branch Board Member and a nationally recognized mathematician, for being named the 2025 Macebearer at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville—the university’s highest faculty honor. This award celebrates her extraordinary career in teaching, mentoring, research, and community outreach.

Dr. Lenhart is Chancellor’s Professor and James R. Cox Professor of Mathematics at UT Knoxville, where she has taught since 1981. Her research in mathematical biology and differential equations has influenced areas as diverse as HIV treatment strategies, CPR guidelines, and environmental population models. She has authored or co-authored over 260 research papers and multiple books, including Mathematics for the Life Sciences.

Beyond research, Dr. Lenhart has led national efforts to broaden participation in STEM, co-founding and serving as associate director for education and outreach at the National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis (NIMBioS). She is a former president of the Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM) and a fellow of four major scientific societies, including AAAS and SIAM.

Within AAUW, she is a tireless advocate for young girls in STEM, leading our branch’s outreach with the YWCA Phyllis Wheatley afterschool program for middle school girls. Her leadership, scholarship, and heart for mentorship have left a lasting legacy at UT and beyond.

Read more about her incredible achievements here:

https://news.utk.edu/2025/03/07/suzanne-lenhart-named-2025-macebearer/