Maryam Mirzakhani was a role model for more than just her mathematics

Her successes discredit the xenophobic stereotypes that are encouraged by a politics of fear

In just a few hours, her name, both in her native Farsi (#???? ?????????) and English (#maryammirzakhani), was trending on Twitter and Facebook. Most major news agencies were covering the news of her death as well as recounting her many achievements.

The grief was especially hard-hitting for a generation of younger academics like me who have always held Maryam as a role model whose example is helping redefine women’s status in science and especially mathematics.

The irony was that Maryam always tried to avoid the media’s spotlight. Her modesty and