Born: 1915 (Mexico City, Mexico)
Died: 2002
Biography:
Enriqueta González Baz y de la Vega (September 22, 1915 – December 22, 2002) was a Mexican mathematician and a prominent figure in the field of mathematics in Mexico. She was a co-founder of the Mexican Mathematical Society and the first woman to earn a degree in mathematics at the National Autonomous University of Mexico.
Enriqueta was born in Mexico City on September 22, 1915, on Calle de Correo Mayor. Her father, Roberto González Baz, sent her to Escuela número 8 for women to receive an education. After completing secondary school, Enriqueta’s father enrolled her in a two-year program at the Escuela Doméstica for domestic studies. At this school, one of her teachers, Elena Picazo de Murray, noticed her talent for studying and urged her to pursue higher education.
After finishing domestic school, Enriqueta González Baz enrolled in night classes at the former San Ildefonso College while studying at the Escuela Nacional de Maestros in Mexico City. She earned a teaching credential to become a school teacher before enrolling in the National Preparatory School. There, Enriqueta studied physical sciences and mathematics. She later continued her education at the Faculty of Sciences of the National Autonomous University of Mexico.
Enriqueta was part of the first cohorts of students majoring in mathematics at the university. She made history in 1944 when she became the first woman in Mexico and at the National Autonomous University of Mexico to earn a degree in mathematics. Her thesis focused on Special Functions, specifically Bessel, Gamma, and Legendre functions. Enriqueta furthered her studies by completing postgraduate studies at Bryn Mawr College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
After completing her studies, Enriqueta began her career in the field of mathematics. Due to the Ministry of Public Education in Mexico not distinguishing between the title of a mathematician and a mathematics teacher, she became a high school math teacher. Enriqueta taught mathematics at the National Preparatory School and various other secondary schools. She also served as a mathematics teacher and researcher at the Faculty of Sciences and the Institute of Physics at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Throughout her career, Enriqueta’s dedication and passion for mathematics were evident in her work.
Enriqueta González Baz was one of the five founding women of the Mexican Mathematical Society, leaving a lasting legacy in the field of mathematics in Mexico. She is remembered as a distinguished student and professor of mathematics, inspiring future generations of women to pursue the study of mathematics. Enriqueta passed away on December 22, 2002, but her contributions to the field continue to inspire and pave the way for women in mathematics.