Skylyn Irby

Skylyn Irby is a 4th-year graduate student in the University of Alabama Mathematics PhD program and Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) Fellow. She is a native of Batesville, Mississippi, and 2019 graduate of the University of Mississippi, where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics with a minor in psychology. Throughout her undergraduate tenure, Skylyn was an undergraduate researcher in the Ronald E. McNair Program, Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, and Mathematical Sciences Research Institute Undergraduate Program. The UM Hall of Fame inductee also served as a mentor and leader in organizations, such as the Theta Psi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Black Student Union, Louis Stokes Mississippi Alliance for Minority Participation and the Bridge STEM program to help enhance the college experience for herself and her peers.

Skylyn is passionate about diversifying STEM fields and making them more accessible to underrepresented students. Her research interests include data science and math education. She currently serves as the African American Graduate Student Association (AAGSA) Vice President and UA Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM) Social Events Chair. In her free time, she enjoys scrapbooking, traveling, and catching up on her favorite TV shows. Skylyn welcomes prospective students to contact her, as she enjoys sharing her experiences and discussing the journey to graduate school.