Prof. Kay Brummond (Chair of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh) has revamped the diversity climate within her department by effecting change via the introduction of inclusive policies, procedures and actions.
Her accomplishments towards improving diversity climate include:
- Worked with Dietrich School Diversity Committee and addressed effective faculty recruiting by recognizing and working to mitigate unconscious bias.
- Worked with the Dietrich Graduate School to have Chemistry included as part of the Hot Metal Bridge Program (http://www.diversity.as.pitt.edu/hot-metal-bridge-program).
- Charged the Departmental Diversity Committee to broaden participation and inclusiveness, and through it:
- Actively supports the Pittsburgh regional student chapter of NOBCChE (National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers) headed by Prof. Renã Robinson
- Actively supports a local section of the Women’s Chemist Committee headed by Dr. Michelle Ward.
- Worked towards an inclusive culture through supervision-training sessions to allow for the development of people management skills, which incorporate equality and diversity considerations. For example, actively encouraged chemistry faculty and staff to attend Allies Network program designed to improve visibility and support to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex/asexual, and allied (LGBTQIA) students and employees. After one year, ten percent of our faculty and staff have received their Allies certificate.
- Facilitated and organized with the help of faculty and staff, professional development workshops and seminars for faculty, graduate and undergraduate students Amongst the leaders of these workshops and seminars are Professor Geri Richmond, founder of COACh and Presidential Chair of Science and Professor of Chemistry; Professor Rigoberto Hernandez, Director of Open Chemistry Collaborative in Diversity Equity (OXIDE); and Lauren Travis from DIVA Inc Coaching.
- Encouraged faculty to attend workshops and symposia designed to broaden participation. Some of the examples are, Undergraduate Research Council-Broadening Participation for Greater Diversity; A Diversity 2020 Summit, an all day workshop held annually at the University in Pittsburgh; and National Diversity Equity Workshops (NDEW) organized by OXIDE.
- Ensured awareness of diversity equity policies from many sources such as the of RSC, Advancing the Chemical Sciences, The Chemistry PhD: the Impact on Women’s Retention. A report prepared by Jessica Lober Newsome for the UK Resource Center for Women in SET and the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Report to the President, Engage to Excel: Producing one million additional college graduates with degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Executive Council of the President, President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. February 2012.
- Along with PPG supported a Departmental Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF PITT) to recruit female and URM students. Last year we supported four students as part of this program, three of these students have been accepted into top-notch graduate programs in chemistry and one of the students joined the US Air Force.
