Diversity
“Diversity drives innovation – when we limit who can contribute, we in turn limit what problems we can solve.” –Telle Whitney
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The understanding and practice of science is open to everyone. I welcome people of all backgrounds in to my research program and classroom!
What exactly is diversity? One of my favorite descriptions comes from Queensborough Community College:
"The concept of diversity encompasses acceptance and respect. It means understanding that each individual is unique, and recognizing our individual differences. These can be along the dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs, political beliefs, or other ideologies. It is the exploration of these differences in a safe, positive, and nurturing environment. It is about understanding each other and moving beyond simple tolerance to embracing and celebrating the rich dimensions of diversity contained within each individual."
Why does diversity matter in academia? Cultivating a diverse and inclusive academic community enhances research quality and enriches learning experiences. Diverse groups are more creative at problem solving, have better-developed interpersonal skills, and have enhanced self-awareness. Advancement in science necessitates diversity!
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Here is a sample of literature that demonstrate the value of diversity, equity, and inclusion in academia, characterize patterns of representation and retention in academia, and suggest strategies that can be employed by University/College administration, individual departments, professors, and instructors to combat implicit bias and promote safe and welcoming learning, research, and work environments.
A reflection on faculty diversity in the 21st century, Molecular Biology of the Cell
“We Are All for Diversity, but . . .”: How Faculty Hiring Committees Reproduce Whiteness and Practical Suggestions for How They Can Change, Harvard Educational Review
Without inclusion, diversity initiatives may not be enough, Science
Underrepresentation of Race-Ethnicity across Stages of U.S. Science and Engineering Education, CBE Life Science Edu.
Collaborating With People Like Me: Ethnic co-authorship within the US, NBER Working Paper No. 19905
Faculty of Color in Academe: What 20 Years of Literature Tells Us, Journal of Diversity in Higher Education
Gender-Heterogenous Working Groups Produce Higher Quality Science, PloS one
Males Under-Estimate Academic Performance of Their Female Peers in Undergraduate Biology Classrooms, PloS one
Expectations of brilliance underlie gender distributions across academic disciplines, Science
Retention of Underrepresented Minority Faculty: Strategic Initiatives for Institutional Value Proposition Based on Perspectives from a Range of Academic Institutions, Journal of Undergraduate Neuroscience Education
The Grass Is Greener in Non-Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Classes: Examining the Role of Competing Belonging to Undergraduate Women’s Vulnerability to Being Pulled Away From Science, Psychology of Women Quarterly
Examining the Academic Success of Latino Students in Science Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Majors, Journal of College Student Development
Giving back of giving up: Native American Student experiences in science and engineering, Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology
Why they leave: the impact of stereotype threat on the attrition of women and minorities from science, math and engineering majors, Social Psychology of Education
Identity and Academic Success among Underrepresented Ethnic Minorities: An Interdisciplinary Review and Integration, Journal of Social Issues
Series from the American Association of Colleges and Universities:
Making Diversity Work on Campus: A Research-Based Perspective
Achieving Equitable Education Outcomes with All Student: The Institution's Roles and Responsibilities
Toward a Model of Inclusive Excellence and Change in Postsecondary Institutions
Universal Design for Instruction: A Framework for Anticipating and Responding to Disability and Other Diverse Learning Needs in the College Classroom, Equity and Excellence in Education
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When starting out as a college student, I was overwhelmed about where to go for help and what resources were available to me. Below, I provide a collection of support resources, funding opportunities, and mentoring programs available for underrepresented undergraduate and graduate students in ecology and evolution. I am actively curating this list - feel free to send me resources to add!
Advancing Chicanos/Hispanics & Native Americans in Science
American Indian College Fund
Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund
Association for Women Geoscientists awards
Disability.gov benefits and scholarship
Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program - NOAA
The Gates Scholarship
Golden Door Scholars
Great Lakes Education Corporation awards
Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities
Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Awards Conference Scholars Program
Hispanic Scholarship Fund
International Student Organization in the USA
McNair list of grants for graduate students
National Black Graduate Student Association
National Indian Education Association
National Research Mentoring Network
Point Foundation's National LGBTQ Scholarship Fund
Scholarship America's scholarship list
Scholarship Point's scholarship list for minority students
Science Ambassador Scholarship
SEEDS, program of the Ecological Society of America
United Negro College Fund
US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation - Scholarship list
