Danica the Mathematician

Best known as an actress, Danica McKellar is also an internationally-recognized mathematician, advocate for math education, and New York Times bestselling author of books to inspire kids in math. A summa cum laude graduate of UCLA with a degree in Mathematics, Danica has been honored in Britain’s esteemed Journal of Physics and the New York Times for her work, most notably for her role as co-author of a groundbreaking mathematical physics theorem which bears her name, the Chayes-McKellar-Winn Theorem.

After graduating from UCLA Danica returned to acting, starring as Elsie Snuffin in the fourth season of The West Wing, and soon found a unique way to combine Hollywood with mathematics. Tackling math education and simultaneously breaking the stereotype of the “math nerd,” Danica began writing entertaining math books – with a glamorous flair – to teach and encourage middle school and high school girls in math. The immediate success of this series prompted ABC World News to name Danica their “Person of the Week.” Her message to girls? Smart is sexy!