Study Shows Top Colleges Have Few Women Profs in Hard Sciences

by NOW Staff

From left: Catherine Didion of the Association for Women in Science, Jacqueline E. Woods of the American Association of University Women, NOW President Kim Gandy, Dr. Donna J. Nelson, Dr. Mae C. Jemison, and Marcia D. Greenberger of the National Women's Law Center.  Photo by Lisa Bennett.

Jacqueline E. Woods, Executive Director of the American Association of University Women Photo by Lisa Bennett.

As a result, even though the percentage of women who have attained bachelor of science degrees in math, science and engineering continues to increase, these students are not likely to have female faculty role models in their chosen field. This has the unfortunate effect of creating a repeating cycle of women leaving the university due to a lack of mentoring even before they themselves can act as mentors for future generations.

Dr. Mae C. Jemison, NASA astronaut from 1987 to 1993 and professor-at-large, Cornell University Photo by Lisa Bennett.

Gandy deplored the fact women are severely under-represented on science, technology, engineering and mathematics faculties even 30 years after the adoption of equal opportunity in education mandates under Title IX of the Education Act Amendments of 1972. Gandy acted as moderator for the Senate briefing, arranged by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), a leader in efforts to promote equal opportunity in science and technology education for women.

In 2002, Wyden called on the U.S. Department of Education to account for the low number of women in faculty positions in response to a petition signed by hundreds of scientists, mathematicians, engineers, educators and clinicians.

A featured speaker at both the press conference and Senate briefing was Dr. Mae C. Jemison, NASA astronaut from 1987 to 1993 and professor-at-large, Cornell University. Dr. Jemison, who received NOW's Intrepid Award honor in 2003, volunteers her time to encourage young women to pursue studies in the fields of science and technology. She is the founder of The Earth We Share, an international science camp.

Also speaking at the events were Marcia D. Greenberger and Jocelyn Samuels of the National Women's Law Center; Jacqueline E. Woods, Executive Director, American Association of University Women; Catherine Didion, Executive Director, Association for Women in Science; Eli Pearce of the American Chemical Society; and undergraduate students Christopher Brammer and Diana Rogers of the University of Oklahoma, Laura Lopez of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Christine Howley of the University of California at Berkeley.