About Ancestral Math
We are educators, technologists, and advocates building the mathematics learning platform that Black and Brown students deserve β one that honors their heritage while preparing them for the future.
"Mathematics is not a foreign language to African people β it is our mother tongue. We are simply helping students remember."
β The Ancestral Math Team
What We Stand For
Four principles guide every decision we make about curriculum, technology, and community.
Culturally Rooted Learning
We connect every math concept to 20,000+ years of African and African Diaspora mathematical heritage β from the Ishango Bone to NASA's Hidden Figures.
Community & Belonging
Students learn alongside peers who share their history and aspirations. Representation in the curriculum builds identity and confidence in STEM.
Accessible to All
Our platform is designed for every learner β from kindergarten through college β with adaptive AI tutoring, parent dashboards, and teacher classroom tools.
Excellence Without Compromise
Rigorous, standards-aligned mathematics paired with culturally relevant contexts. Students don't choose between identity and academic achievement β they have both.
Our Leadership
Guided by a scholar whose life's work is the intersection of equity, technology, and community.
Dr. Ruby Mendenhall
Kathryn Lee Baynes Dallenbach Professor, UIUC
Dr. Mendenhall is a Professor of Sociology, African American Studies, Urban & Regional Planning, and Social Work at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and Associate Dean for Diversity and Health Innovation at the Carle Illinois College of Medicine. Her research spans AI ethics, computational social science, Black women's health, and housing policy. Named Urbana Poet Laureate in 2024, she brings both scholarly rigor and creative vision to Ancestral Math β building a platform where AI serves equity and every student encounters mathematics as their own inheritance.
Contributors & Partners
Researchers, educators, and innovators who have dedicated their careers to expanding STEM access and excellence.
Dr. Meggan Lee
PostDoc Researcher, Carle Illinois College of Medicine
Dr. Lee is a sociologist and postdoctoral researcher at UIUC whose landmark 2020 study on racial microaggressions in STEM education has been cited nearly 300 times. As a CompGen Fellow, she bridges sociology and genomics to understand how structural racism becomes embodied. Her research on campus racial climate, Black women's health, and community health worker training directly informs how Ancestral Math designs learning environments that are safe, affirming, and academically rigorous.
Dr. Joe Bradley
Curriculum Design Lead
Dr. Bradley has extensive experience designing and delivering interdisciplinary STEM courses. He has developed curricula that integrate experiential learning, team-based projects, and scalable instructional models to support both in-person and online learners. Additionally, he brings a systems-level approach to advancing preKβ12 STEM education and expanding access through innovative, technology-enabled learning environments.
Press & Media
Our team's scholarship and leadership have been recognized by leading academic institutions, media outlets, and civic organizations.
AI systems that are not designed with equity in mind risk perpetuating and amplifying existing inequalities. We must build AI that serves all communities, not just the privileged few.
Dr. Ruby Mendenhall
Communications of the ACM β AI Ethics
If you aren't White, Asian or Indian, you aren't an engineer. These microaggressions don't just sting β they systematically exclude talented students from STEM fields.
Dr. Meggan Lee
International Journal of STEM Education β 295 Citations
Academic & Institutional Affiliations
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Meet Sekani
Sekani is your AI reading companion. He'll read lessons aloud in your chosen voice style. Pick the one that feels right β you can change it any time from the Dashboard.
π§ Deep & Calm
A steady, deep voice β great for focused learning.
β‘ Energetic
A bright, faster voice β keeps the energy up.
π’ Slow & Clear
A slower, clear voice β ideal for careful reading.
Your choice is saved locally β no account required.