Harvard’s First Black Female PhD Dies From Cancer

Dr. Deborah Washington Brown, the first black woman to graduate from Harvard University with a PhD, died at age 68 on June 5th, 2020, from cancer.

News of Dr. Brown’s death was shared by her Jamaican husband, Rula Ruel Brown, via Facebook. The Browns recently celebrated their 41st wedding anniversary on May 26th, 2020.

LISTEN: Ep. 23: Fighting Pancreatic Cancer Holistically (with Grier Bowen-Wright)

Dr. Brown, (born on June 3, 1952, in Washington DC), a renowned speech technology specialist, had been battling pancreatic cancer for the past 16 months.

She succumbed to her illness while at home in Atlanta, surrounded by her family and a chaplain. She leaves behind her daughters Latoya and Laurel, and husband of 41 years, Rula Brown.

Dr. Deborah W. Brown Made History At Harvard.

Dr. Brown created history when she became the first black woman to receive a Ph.D in Applied Math from Harvard University, in 1981. She also made history by finishing at the top of her graduating class.

She graduated from Lowell Technological Institute in 1975 with a B.S. in Mathematics. Then continued at Harvard University, attaining her M.S in Applied Mathematics in 1977, before completing her PhD in 1981.

READ: Are You Prepared For Sudden Death? Here’s A Checklist To Read…

Dr. Deborah Brown started playing the piano at age 6 and has played in music halls in Italy, Germany, Atlanta and also NYC’s famed, Carnegie Hall.

Watch this tribute video of Dr. Brown playing the piano HERE.

Support future PhD students by donating to PALAS.

Rula Brown is the founder of the Rula Brown Network and also the founder of the non-profit organization, PALAS Inc. (Peace And Love Academic Scholarship). PALAS’ chairman, Patrick S. Campbell, is also Jamaican.

In support of Dr. Brown’s legacy, you can sponsor the scholastic future of Caribbean students and future Ph.D. students by donating to PALAS HERE.

RIP Dr. Deborah Brown.