There have been many strides towards gender equality in recent years, and this new trend has led to some well-deserved recognition and opportunities for some of our most prominent mathematicians. Mathematics has traditionally been a male-dominated field of study, and it has taken the work of several brilliant and strong-willed women in recent decades to demonstrate that women deserve a place in this area of ​​study as much as men. These women have been tireless in their efforts and have provided like-minded women with role models that they can connect with and seek to emulate. One such mathematician who has had an interesting and successful career is Nancy Kopell. She has proven over the years that she deserves her place as one of the most competent and renowned mathematicians in the world. One of the things that make her a great role model for young women is the fact that she herself comes from a humble background. She was born and raised on Pelham Parkway in the Bronx and was the youngest child in a family of four. His parents and older brother were all well educated: his father worked as an accountant, and his mother and older sister majored in mathematics while at school. Perhaps this is why she herself chose mathematics as a career choice (The Poster Project Biographies). Having decided to study mathematics, the next step she was forced to take was choosing a college to attend. This was difficult because at the time there were very few female mathematicians she could look to as an example and try to emulate. The college he initially chose was Cornell University. It was there that he earned his bachelor's degree in mathematics. He then decided to attend graduate school at the University of California, Berkeley. During this point in her studies she became painfully aware of the paucity of fellow graduates and faculty. This led her to question her decision to become a mathematician and doubt her own abilities. She was lucky enough to have a friend, Stephen Smale, as her thesis advisor and he convinced her not to drop out of school. He then obtained his Ph.