Vrushali Bokil, executive associate dean and professor of mathematics in Oregon State University’s College of Science, has been named a 2027 Fellow of the Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM), recognizing her sustained leadership in expanding access and opportunity in mathematics.
Bokil is one of eight mathematicians nationally selected for the 2027 class. The AWM Fellows Program recognizes individuals who have demonstrated a sustained commitment to supporting and advancing women in the mathematical sciences.
AWM recognized Bokil for her “outstanding leadership and tireless advocacy” to make mathematics more accessible to people who are underprivileged and underrepresented in STEM, as well as her work to create structural changes with lasting impact.
That work has taken shape at Oregon State over nearly two decades.
In 2021, Bokil led the College of Science in developing Embedding Equity, Access and Inclusion, the College’s first Diversity Action Plan, making Science one of the first colleges at Oregon State to create such a plan. Developed with input from students, faculty, staff and college leaders, the plan established concrete goals and accountability measures and led to new structures supporting equity, access and inclusion across the College.
As a 2018 OSU ADVANCE Faculty Fellow, Bokil helped bring equity and inclusion training into professional development for mathematics graduate students. She received the College of Science Inclusive Excellence Award in 2019, Oregon State’s Outstanding Diversity Advocate Award in 2022 and the College’s Champion of Science award in 2024.
“Vrushali has put an enormous amount of thought and work into making mathematics and science more accessible," said College of Science Dean Eleanor Feingold. "She cares deeply about who gets to participate in mathematics and science, and she’s been persistent about making changes that open more doors.”
Bokil has also extended her equity work nationally. To improve the culture and climate in the mathematical sciences, she co-organized two workshops, focused on understanding and creating welcoming environments for improving representation and persistence in STEM disciplines. The 2020 AWM Moving Towards Action Workshop, and the 2022 AWM Aligning Actions at Crossroads Workshop, included an introduction to the creation of action plans and working sessions on developing action plans for mathematics departments, content that was developed by the ADVANCE program at OSU.
In 2024, Bokil co-organized a workshop focused on research, mentoring and professional development for groups underrepresented in computational mathematics at the National Science Foundation funded Institute for Computational and Experimental Research in Mathematics (ICERM) on the campus of Brown University. This workshop piloted a new model for engaging, mentoring and integrating underrepresented researchers and mentors dedicated to supporting each other’s professional and scholarly growth. This workshop was jointly funded by the national Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM).
Bokil joined Oregon State in 2006 and has served as associate head of mathematics, associate dean for research and graduate studies and interim dean of the College of Science. She currently serves as executive associate dean. Her research spans applied and computational mathematics, including numerical methods for wave propagation, scientific computing and mathematical biology.
She and the other members of the 2027 class will be honored at the AWM Reception and Awards Presentation during the Joint Mathematics Meetings in Chicago on Jan. 14, 2027.
