Anila Yadavalli

Where are you from?

I was raised in San Jose, CA, but completed my undergraduate degree at UC San Diego and my Ph.D. at NC State in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Please describe an experience (or 2) that helped you discover/ cultivate your interest in the mathematical sciences.

I thought I hated math and was bad at it until my high school precalculus class. My teacher, Mrs. Warmuth, created such a welcoming and collaborative environment; we would always be working in groups and presenting problems at the board. This is very vividly the first time I remember ever receiving praise and positive feedback about my mathematical ability. It impacted me so much and inspired me to take AP math classes and I eventually decided I wanted to become a high school math teacher just like her!

As I took more math classes, I ended up switching from secondary education to just a math major. I was super lucky to have a friend group of four other women math majors. We always studied together, and we were all on the board of the math club. We organized really crazy events like a mathematical talent show, and I think this really helped reverse stereotypes about who did math and showed that the math community was fun and creative.

What is/are your most proud accomplishment(s) in regards to your career in the mathematical sciences?

My entire career is something that I am proud of--it's a wonderful mix of failure and success that add up to something great that I can look back on, take ownership of, and say "I did that!". Each step of the way, I thought I wouldn't make it to the next step, from getting my Bachelor's, to my master's, to passing my prelims, getting my Ph.D, publishing my first paper, and even getting a job. Thanks to an amazing support system and wonderful mentors, I had the courage to persist through each of those steps and accept that failure is natural, and I am very proud of that. 

What is/are your most proud accomplishment(s) in regards to your personal life?

I am proud that I had the courage to start going to therapy and prioritizing my mental health care. I grew up in a culture in which mental health issues were downplayed and very stigmatized. Moving across the country alone and starting an intense graduate program was a difficult transition for me, but therapy helped me learn how to find a healthy balance in my life and encouraged me to focus more of my time on things outside of math like my relationships and hobbies. It also helped me navigate the feelings of "otherness" associated with being a woman and a minority in a STEM graduate program. 

Please share some words of wisdom/inspiration.

I will refer to my favorite source of wisdom, Instagram: "Another woman doing what you are doing is not your competition. She is your sister. Support her."