Today we feature an exciting conversation with Dr. Mary Gray, Distinguished Professor of Mathematics and Statistics at American University in Washington DC. Dr. Gray earned her PHD in mathematics from the University of Kansas and her JD from the Washington College of Law at American University. As a statistician and lawyer, Dr. Gray’s areas of research focus on applications of statistics to human rights, economic equity and education. She is the founder of the Association for Women in Mathematics, a fellow of the American Statistical Association and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and a recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Engineering and Mathematics Mentoring. She has authored two books and over eighty articles. In this conversation, you will learn about the power of an effective undergraduate advisor, about recognizing and caring for critical issues long before they gain national attention, about working with others to effect change, and about how a gift of gratitude from a student led to an extensive collection of owls.