NSF Empowering Women of Color in the Engineering Academy

It is well known and well documented that there are disparities, challenges, roadblocks and opportunities for Women of Color (WoC) engineering academics. In the academy, it is known that advancement is not solely driven by scholarly work, but by connections, awareness, social networks and resilience. However, the absence of these and cultures of inclusion can cause isolation within the faculty. Affinity groups could be utilized as vehicles for improving the advancement of WoC in the academy. Affinity groups are employee or professional communities with a common social identity that are formed with the goal of supporting and developing its members for successful careers.

Purpose: 
The purpose of the proposed workshop is to discover the reach, structure, and impact of affinity groups, and to learn from successful models from other professional societies. The information collected during the workshop will be made available to attendees.

Mission:  To study the intersection of professional organizations and affinity groups and the role that they play for women of color (WoC) in engineering academia as they traverse their career pathways.

Vision: 
Utilize information gathered in the workshop in the development of organizational strategies to increase the successful advancement of WoC in engineering academia.

Inquiries can be made through: 
empowering.woc.eng@mail.rit.edu 
https://bit.ly/3iOhCNZ

Sources: 
Society of Women Engineers, “Research and Trends for Women in STEM.”