The award holds a particularly personal meaning for Professor Nevins. “Dr. Graham Wright was a long-standing member of our department and a central figure in the CMS,” she says. “He was executive director for over 30 years. To receive the award named after him feels deeply meaningful, both personally and professionally.”
Over the past two decades, Nevins has been a driving force within the CMS. She has served on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee, helping to steer the organization through strategic changes. One of her most visible contributions was her role in organizing the CMS Summer Meeting, a multi-year effort shaped by the unexpected turns of the pandemic. Originally scheduled for 2020 to mark the CMS’s 75th anniversary, the event was held virtually in 2021 and again in 2023 when she stepped up after another host university withdrew. “I ended up being involved in some form or another for five years,” she laughs. “But it was such a rewarding way to stay connected with the community.”
Nevins is best known for her work in algebra and representation theory, with a particular focus on p-adic groups. But her research journey didn’t stop there. A deep love of puzzles has drawn her toward cryptography and, more recently, the field of quantum security through her collaboration with the Quantum Security via Algebras and Representation Theory (QUASAR) group. This interdisciplinary team bridges algebra, quantum information theory and cryptographic applications.
“Cryptography is where algebra meets real-world urgency,” she says. “We’re at a crossroads right now, with quantum computing threatening to break the algorithms we’ve relied on for decades. Our work is focused on finding robust post-quantum alternatives.”
Through collaborations with international researchers, especially during a recent research stay in Paris, Nevins has broadened the global reach of her scholarship. This is helping to lay the mathematical groundwork for quantum-secure systems. Grants from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the New Frontiers in Research Fund have supported this expanding research program, allowing her to invest in what she values most: students.
Mentorship is at the heart of her work. Whether in one-on-one research meetings or group sessions, she sees herself as a guide, offering direction, encouragement and honest feedback. “In math, there’s no lab equipment. It’s all about ideas,” she explains. “Students bring their creativity, and my role is to help shape that into something powerful.”
Beyond the University, Nevins is deeply committed to diversity and inclusion in math. She leads outreach workshops for students and teachers, participates in mentoring panels and ensures her teaching materials reflect the diverse face of the mathematical world. “Sometimes, all it takes is someone saying, ‘You belong here,’” she says. “That message can change a life.”
With her recent speaking invitations, editorial roles in national math journals, and ongoing work at the frontier of quantum cryptography, Nevins shows no signs of slowing down. And as she continues to inspire others through logic, leadership and service, the Graham Wright Award feels less like a culmination and more like the next step in a career that’s still unfolding.
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