Julie Haynes Lutz (1944–2022) was an

astronomer An astronomer is a scientist in the field of astronomy who focuses their studies on a specific question or field outside the scope of Earth. They observe astronomical objects such as stars, planets, moons, comets and galaxies – in either ...

and mathematician who studies

planetary nebula A planetary nebula (PN, plural PNe) is a type of emission nebula consisting of an expanding, glowing shell of ionized gas ejected from red giant stars late in their lives. The term "planetary nebula" is a misnomer because they are unrelate ...

e and

symbiotic binary A symbiotic binary is a type of binary star system, often simply called a symbiotic star. They usually contain a white dwarf with a companion red giant. The cool giant star loses material via Roche lobe overflow or through its stellar wind, w ...

stars. Lutz was the Boeing Distinguished Professor of Mathematics and Science Education and director of the astronomy program at

Washington State University Washington State University (Washington State, WSU, or informally Wazzu) is a public land-grant research university with its flagship, and oldest, campus in Pullman, Washington. Founded in 1890, WSU is also one of the oldest land-grant uni ...

. She moved to the

University of Washington The University of Washington (UW, simply Washington, or informally U-Dub) is a public research university in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 1861, Washington is one of the oldest universities on the West Coast; it was established in Seattl ...

in 2000, where she held an position as

professor emeritus ''Emeritus'' (; female: ''emerita'') is an adjective used to designate a retired chair, professor, pastor, bishop, pope, director, president, prime minister, rabbi, emperor, or other person who has been "permitted to retain as an honorary title ...

. Lutz died on May 3, 2022.

Education and career

Julie Haynes did her undergraduate studies at

San Diego State University San Diego State University (SDSU) is a public research university in San Diego, California. Founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, it is the third-oldest university and southernmost in the 23-member California State University (CSU) system ...

. She earned her doctorate at the

University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (U of I, Illinois, University of Illinois, or UIUC) is a public land-grant research university in Illinois in the twin cities of Champaign and Urbana. It is the flagship institution of the Univer ...

, where she also met and married fellow astronomy graduate student Thomas E. Lutz. She joined the Washington State faculty in 1971. At Washington State, she chaired the Department of Pure and Applied Mathematics from 1992 to 1996, and was active in improving primary and secondary school science education. She also served as president of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific from 1991 to 1993.

Recognition

Lutz was a Fellow of the

Royal Astronomical Society (Whatever shines should be observed) , predecessor = , successor = , formation = , founder = , extinction = , merger = , merged = , type = NG ...

and of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. In 2004 the

United Negro College Fund UNCF, the United Negro College Fund, also known as the United Fund, is an American philanthropic organization that funds scholarships for black students and general scholarship funds for 37 private historically black colleges and universities ...

gave Lutz and her husband, astronomer George Wallerstein, their President's Award for their long-term and substantial fund-raising activities for the organization.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lutz, Julie 1944 births 2022 deaths American women astronomers 20th-century American mathematicians 21st-century American mathematicians American women mathematicians San Diego State University alumni University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign alumni Washington State University faculty University of Washington faculty Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellows of the Royal Astronomical Society 20th-century women mathematicians 21st-century women mathematicians 20th-century American women 21st-century American women