Ann Dunham was an American anthropologist and the mother of Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States. Born on November 29, 1942, in Wichita, Kansas, she spent much of her life studying rural development and the economic conditions of various cultures, particularly in Indonesia. Dunham earned her Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of Hawaii and worked on various projects that focused on women's rights and microfinance. She was known for her dedication to social issues and her efforts to improve the lives of people in developing countries. Ann Dunham passed away on November 7, 1995.