Report Documents Huge Shortage of Minority Women Faculty in STEM Disciplines

A new report from the Institute for Women’s Policy Research finds that minority women are vastly underrepresented in STEM disciplines on the faculties of colleges and universities in the United States. In 2010, underrepresented minority women (Blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans, and multiracial) made up just 2.1 percent of all faculty in STEM disciplines whereas minority women in these groups are about 13 percent of the total U.S. working-age population. In contrast, White men hold 58 percent of the faculty posts in STEM fields, but only 35 percent of the working-age population.

Cynthia Hess, the director of the Institute for Women’s Policy Research and co-author of the report, states, “Ensuring that women faculty of color have the supports to pursue and advance in STEM academic careers is increasingly important, especially given the projected growth of these fields in the coming years. To increase the number of highly skilled STEM workers and strengthen the economic security of U.S. families, we must engage the entire STEM talent pool.”

Dr. Hess has been with the IWPR since 2007. She previously served on the faculty of St. Mary’s College of Maryland. Dr. Hess is a graduate of Davidson College in North Carolina and holds a Ph.D. from Yale University.

The full report, Accelerating Change for Women Faculty of Color in STEM: Policy, Action, and Collaboration, can be downloaded here.