Ellain McGhee Brooks ‘44 represents resilience, brilliance, and unwavering commitment to education. A proud alumna of North Carolina Central University (NCCU) — then known as North Carolina College for Negroes — Brooks’ life story reflects the very spirit of excellence the institution has championed for generations.
Brooks earned her Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics with a minor in chemistry. While on campus, she was initiated into Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. through the Alpha Lambda Chapter
Her passion for mathematics propelled her to earn a master’s degree in mathematics from Columbia University Teachers College. Recognized for her scholarly promise, she received National Science Foundation Fellowships in Mathematics and pursued advanced studies at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the University of Rochester, Oberlin College, the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and Indiana University–Bloomington, sharpening her expertise in a field where few women — particularly Black women at the time — were represented.
Brooks served as a mathematics teacher, department chair and mentor to aspiring educators. She later became an associate professor of mathematics and supervisor of student teachers at Rowan University of New Jersey, (formerly Glassboro State College). During her tenure, she helped develop New Jersey’s first statewide mathematics assessment, contributing to educational standards that would impact students across the state.
Her professional accomplishments were matched by her entrepreneurial and civic leadership. As the founder of Brooks Travel Services, she operated her own business for nearly two decades. Even in retirement, Brooks remained devoted to her community through church leadership, voter engagement efforts and educational advocacy. She also helped strengthen alumni connections as a co-organizer of the Northern Piedmont Chapter of the NCCU Alumni Association.
As her and her loved ones celebrated her 101st birthday on February 22, Brooks continues to inspire as a trailblazer in mathematics, a devoted community servant and a proud Eagle.