A RESPONSE TO THE NEED FOR INCREASED FEMALE FACULTY REPRESENTATION IN GEOSCIENCE

The National Science Foundation has long-standing programs to increase diversity in science and engineering, including programs focused specifically on broadening participation in geosciences. However, after a diverse student body is attracted into a geoscience program, they are often faced with a lack of diversity in their instructors. Clemson University, like many others, has had a prosperous academic and research program over the past several decades even with a relatively small core geoscience faculty, currently six tenure-track and four non-tenure track faculty. Recently, the Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences faculty at Clemson has increased the percentage of female geoscience faculty in tenure-track positions and obtained an equal representation of male and female non-tenure track faculty. Undergraduate students in their first few semesters are now equally likely to have a male or female professor introducing them to the exciting world of geosciences. Over the last three years as the gender balance among geology faculty has improved, we have observed that the majority of female undergraduates have selected female faculty as research mentors for their senior thesis projects. This suggests our female students likely do desire mentorship from a diverse faculty. The next milestone: increase the number of female faculty at the full professor rank and those holding named professorships. At Clemson University, for example, the total percentage of female faculty in the College of Engineering, Computing, and Applied Sciences is less than 20%, decreasing to a mere 10% of faculty holding the rank of full professor. Increased gender diversity at the highest levels may enhance retention of junior female faculty and will better serve our diverse students.