Wichita State begins project to hire and retain more women, minority STEM faculty

Wichita State University says it hopes a new grant-funded project will help to hire and retain women and minority faculty members.

The university plans to use a $300,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to increase the number of women and minorities in faculty positions on campus, particularly in STEM fields.

The university says the 18-month grant-funded project will also be a benefit to the growing and diverse student body.

“Students are inspired by teachers who look like them, and diverse groups are more productive, more innovative and have better outcomes. Everyone benefits,” says Janet Twomey, associate dean of the College of Engineering and principle Investigator of the project.

WSU faculty will be asked to participate in a faculty satisfaction survey, and female STEM faculty will participate in focus groups – all with the goal of learning more about existing struggles to advancing their careers as faculty and what the university can do to increase diversity in hiring.

Currently, six out of the 10 dean positions throughout Wichita State are held by women.