Recruiting A Diverse Faculty
2006 NIH Pioneer Award recipients: David Relman, MD, Associate Professor Medicine -Infectious Diseases ; Associate Professor Microbiology & Immunology; Kwabena Boahan, PhD, Associate Professor, Bioengineering; Karla Kirkregaard, PhD, Professor Microbiology & Immunology
"Recruiting a diverse faculty is essential to achieving our goals of excellence in research, education and patient care."
Hannah Valantine, MD,
Senior Associate Dean
Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine
Recruitment - Recruiting a diverse faculty is one of ODL's top priorities. ODL supports those involved in the recruiting process by providing information regarding financial resources for the hire of diverse faculty, information about unintended bias, and strategies for building a broadly diverse candidate pool. Our staff is available to work directly with committees, and to offer the following links and tools:
- Guide to Faculty Searches - Compiled by the Office of Academic Affairs with input from ODL, this guide is made available to all search committees through the SOM's Academic Affairs Office.
- Understanding our Biases - ODL recommends this presentation to all search committee members prior to engaging in a faculty search.
- Funding Opportunities to Support Diverse Recruitment - ODL encourages search committees to consider funds available through the Provost's Office that support recruitment efforts.
Retention - Successful recruitment of diverse faculty must be complemented and reinforced by efforts to retain faculty members. These include:
Creating community - ODL sponsors monthly meetings with women faculty and periodic meetings with underrepresented minority faculty and students that provides opportunities for advising and networking.
Career development - ODL also sponsors periodic workshops [link to Skills Building Workshops page] and hosts events featuring guest speakers aimed at addressing career development, diversity and leadership goals and challenges.