Greg Galloway didn’t set out to become a mathematician. In fact, as a teenager, he wasn’t particularly interested in academics. But during his final year of high school, a teacher inspired what would become a lifelong love of math.
“I had this sensational high school senior math teacher,” said Galloway, a professor emeritus at the University of Miami College of Arts and Sciences. “We were doing calculus then, and that really started it.”
Now, Galloway is among a select group of mathematicians from around the world who have been named Fellows of the American Mathematical Society, an honor that recognizes mathematicians who have made exceptional contributions to the field.
“The College of Arts and Sciences is pleased that the American Mathematical Society has recognized Greg Galloway’s impressive accomplishments,” said Leonidas Bachas, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “This prestigious honor is a fantastic achievement that speaks to the importance of his many contributions to the field of mathematics.”
Galloway, who taught in the Department of Mathematics from 1977 until his retirement in the spring of 2024, specializes in the field of differential geometry, which, in simple terms, is geometry that incorporates calculus. His research, which is primarily at the interface of differential geometry and general relativity—Albert Einstein’s geometric theory of gravity—has delved into topics such as black holes and cosmology, the study of the universe as a whole.
Over the course of his career, Galloway has received 11 National Science Foundation grants, as well as a Simons Fellowship in Mathematics. He has also conducted research at some of the world’s top math institutes. Galloway is currently serving as a research professor at the Simons Laufer Mathematical Sciences Institute in Berkeley, California, as part of a semester-long research program.
The American Mathematical Society honor recognizes not only Galloway’s body of research, but also his other contributions to the field, including organizing conferences and programs at math institutes. Galloway is among 41 mathematicians who were recently named 2025 fellows.
“I am delighted to congratulate the 2025 Class of AMS Fellows, recognized for their outstanding contributions to the mathematical sciences and for their extraordinary service to our profession,” Bryna Kra, president of the American Mathematical Society, said in a press release. “This year’s class was selected from a large and excellent pool of candidates, highlighting the many ways that individuals advance our profession.”
For Galloway, collaborating with other researchers has been one of the highlights of his professional career.
“One thing I’ve enjoyed in my career is having research collaborators from all over the world, and in recent years, having young collaborators, which has helped to keep me young,” he said.
In addition to teaching and conducting research, Galloway served as chair of the Department of Mathematics from 2008 to 2014 and has mentored numerous students.
“I had many wonderful UM students over the years,” he said. His advice to students who want to pursue a career in mathematics, he added, is, “You’ve got to love it, and you’ve got to be totally dedicated to it.”
