Mary Hughes
Chemistry and Physics Teacher (retired)
Fields: High school sciences
Specialty: Physics
Nominated by: Laurie L. Brown
Excerpt from nomination: "Miss Mary Hughes was an inspiration to me in my teenage years and again in my 40s. Miss Hughes was teaching the Physics class of the new high school I had just enrolled in (1973). Here she was, a former nun, quiet, assuming but full of energy and oh so intelligent. I believe I was the only girl in the class. I found Miss Hughes to be a wonderful teacher who made Physics seem easy. She was a friend of my parent's neighbors so I continued to have occasional meetings with her as I went through college, the US Marine Corps and beyond. In 1998, I ended up in Huntsville, AL supporting the International Space Station as an engineer for the Boeing Company. I had been sending Christmas cards to Miss Hughes for years and knew she had retired to Alabama. I looked her up and she was running a home for abused women and the homeless. Her energy was still strong and of course the intelligence was ever present. We met for dinner several times over the course of the 10 months of my residence in Huntsville. Every dinner was filled with good cheer. I found that I really owe Miss Hughes a tremendous amount for the inspiration she instilled in me and I am sure many who followed me in that small town in Florida where our paths crossed many years ago.
What was your first job and what did you learn from it?
My first job was that of a secondary teacher of mathematics and chemistry. I learned early on that a teacher must have vital knowledge of her subjects plus insight into teenagers, and that bluffing is not an option on either score.
Who is your hero, mentor or person you most admire? Why?
My heroine is Dorothy Day. I admire Dorothy Day because she took advantage of her extraordinary intelligence to accomplish social justice goals.
The movie, "Entertaining Angels," (1996) starring Moira Kelly, Martin Sheen and Brian Keith, tells her story. The Los Angeles Daily News gives it four stars and states, "An exceptional movie by any measure."
What is your favorite book?
My favorite book is "Dr. Zhivago" by Boris Pasternak (the book to me far surpasses the movie).
What advances in your field do you envision over the next 10 years?
Whatever the specific advances involved in teaching chemistry and physics, one must envision them, in essence, to be associated with advances in computers. Scientific American foresees "about a decade away, transistors with 50 nanometer gates" used in optical lithography, promising computer speeds far exceeding even those of the next few years. Also, the magazine foresees on the horizon, holographic storage, a real breakthrough for computer storage.
What do you see as the single most interesting element of your work?
The laboratory aspect of the science instruction with consequent opportunities to perceive the emergence of a promising (Curie-like!) science project is the single most interesting element of my work.
What was your greatest challenge and what did you learn from it?
I consider my greatest challenge that of achieving success in my master's dissertation experiment. Today, my alma mater, Catholic University of America, stands on par with most universities in the land. However, in the 1950s, in spite of excellent instruction, the laboratories left much to be desired. I learned that research via the Library of Congress (I love that place!) was the key to my final success.
What advice would you give to young women who want to enter your field?
Considering my field to be that of teaching chemistry and physics on a secondary or community college level, I would strongly advise that bachelor and master degrees be totally academic. Also, I would recommend squeezing in as many academic courses as possible, including advanced mathematics.
