Julie Haynes Lutz (1944–2022) was an

astronomer An astronomer is a scientist in the field of astronomy who focuses on a specific question or field outside the scope of Earth. Astronomers observe astronomical objects, such as stars, planets, natural satellite, moons, comets and galaxy, galax ...

and mathematician who studies

planetary nebula A planetary nebula 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 unrelated to planets. The ...

e and symbiotic binary 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 (WSU, or colloquially Wazzu) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Pullman, Washington, United States. 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 and informally U-Dub or U Dub) is a public research university in Seattle, Washington, United States. Founded in 1861, the University of Washington is one of the oldest universities on the West Coast of the Uni ...

in 2000, where she held an position as

professor emeritus ''Emeritus/Emerita'' () is an honorary title granted to someone who retirement, retires from a position of distinction, most commonly an academic faculty position, but is allowed to continue using the previous title, as in "professor emeritus". ...

. 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 university, public research university in San Diego, California, United States. Founded in 1897, it is the third-oldest university and southernmost in the 23-member California State University (CS ...

. She earned her doctorate at the

University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC, U of I, Illinois, or University of Illinois) is a public land-grant research university in the Champaign–Urbana metropolitan area, Illinois, United States. Established in 1867, it is the f ...

, 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 The Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP) is an American scientific and educational organization, founded in San Francisco on February 7, 1889, immediately following the solar eclipse of January 1, 1889. Its name derives from its origins on ...

from 1991 to 1993.

Recognition

Lutz was a Fellow of the

Royal Astronomical Society The Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) is a learned society and charitable organisation, charity that encourages and promotes the study of astronomy, planetary science, solar-system science, geophysics and closely related branches of science. Its ...

and of the

American Association for the Advancement of Science The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is a United States–based international nonprofit with the stated mission of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsib ...

. 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 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 American women mathematicians 21st-century American women mathematicians