Murray State ADVANCE
Developing Majority Allies to Advance Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Academy
Dr. Rudolph Buchheit
October 13th, 3:30-4:30 PM
Engineering and Physics Building Room 1303
Register HERE
Academic institutions across the country face pressure from powerful social and economic
forces, some of the largest of which are associated with diversifying academic communities
and making clear that equity and inclusion are essential components of institutional
excellence. Some of the most influential segments of the university community, namely
the faculty and university leadership are still mostly comprised of majority men.
When it comes to changes needed to promote diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI),
good intentions prevail among majority men. However, the nuanced understanding of
the issues and the ability to put good intentions into play is weak. Addressing these
weaknesses defines work that can be done now to make immediate change.
In this presentation approaches for elevating DEI awareness and teaching practical
skills to majority men are discussed. These approaches build from workshop-based engagements
to develop interest and awareness of socially-reinforced implicit bias and how it
manifests in the behaviors and decision-making that determines how the academic community
operates. Attention is also given to illuminating aspects of privilege and systemic
privilege that distributes advantage differentially across the university community.
Engagements also include discussion of a set of practical skills that allow men to
implement an elevated awareness to create a more equitable and inclusive environment
for everyone.
The presentation will also address the challenges in implementing these approaches.
Discomfort with the subject, lack of motivation, and politicization of the issues
are roadblocks. However, working with the willing, investing in high quality evidence-based
instruction, and meaningful two-way dialog have all proven to be effective ways to
build authentic commitment to the issues and encourage the sustained self-work that
leads to positive change in culture and climate.
ADVANCE Adaptati0n: Leveling the Playing Field , Strategic Equity Initiatives at Murray State University
In a continuation of our ADVANCE work, Murray State University will adapt successful programs from institutions such as University of New Hampshire and University of Washington for use at MSU. Based on our 2017 Climate Survey, we know there are challenges that women STEM faculty face. Through MSU-LEARN, we will develop interactive theatre modules to address implicit bias in search, tenure and promotion processes. Through MSU-GROW, we will develop programs to improve the retention and advancement of women faculty. We will enhance work-life balance at MSU through MSU-LIVE strategies. This $1 million initiative is supported by the National Science Foundation.
Publication and Resources
McCarthy M, Balthrop D, Fuller C, Kemp R, Waddill P, Zhang Q. Differences and Deficits Affecting
Women in STEM Faculty at Murray State University. Poster Presented at EMBO | EMBL
| HHMI Conference: Gender
Roles and their Impact in Academia; 2020 Oct 13-15; Virtual
McCarthy M, Balthrop D, Fuller C, Kemp R, Waddill P, Zhang Q. "Emotional Labor in
Higher Education". 2021 STEM For All Video Showcase COVID, Equity, & Social Justice;
2021 May 11-18; Virtual. https://stemforall2021.videohall.com/presentations/1939
McCarthy M, Balthrop D, Fuller C, Kemp R, Waddill P, Zhang Q. "Interactive Theatre
Addresses Implicit Bias In University Search and Tenure Processes". YouTube. 2020
Oct 9. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJhGqoqpbm4
McCarthy M, Balthrop D, Fuller C, Kemp R, Waddill P, Zhang Q. "Emotional Labor in
Higher Education". YouTube. 2020 Nov 16. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97yR858A0TM&t=21s
McCarthy M, Balthrop D, Fuller C, Kemp R, Waddill P, Zhang Q. "Achieving work-life
balance for women in higher education". YouTube. 2020 Oct 14. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsUVTQZIACQ
Contact Us
- MSU ADVANCE
- 216 I&T Building
- Murray, KY, 42071
- msu.advance@murraystate.edu
- 270.809.2489
Project Team
- Dr. Maeve McCarthy
- Assistant Dean
Jones College of Science, Engineering & Technology
Professor of Mathematics
- 203A I&T Building
- mmccarthy@murraystate.edu
- 270.809.2489
Dr. Maeve McCarthy, Interim Assistant Dean and Professor of Mathematics and Statistics, will serve as the Principal Investigator. She will lead the program, supervise the program coordinator and administrative assistant, and conduct some of the policy review. As the former Executive Director of the Association for Women in Mathematics, she is passionate about gender issues in STEM. Through her work as former Chair of the MSU Insurance and Benefits Committee and PI of the MSU Catalyst grant, she has strong relationships with the MSU administration.
- Dr. David Balthrop
- Dean
Humanities and Fine Arts
Professor of Theatre
- 100 Faculty Hall
- dbalthrop@murraystate.edu
- 270.809.4634
Dr. David Balthrop, co-PI, is the Dean of the College of Humanities and Fine Arts and a Professor of Theatre. He brings valuable experience in theatre to the PI team that will enhance the MSU-LEARN program. His administrative experience and position on the Dean’s Council will be of great benefit. He served on the Internal Advisory Board for the MSU Catalyst grant.
- Dr. Claire Fuller
- Dean
Jones College of Science, Engineering & Technology
Professor of Biological Sciences
- 201A I&T Building
- cfuller@murraystate.edu
- 270.809.5497
Dr. Claire Fuller, co-PI, is the Dean of the Jones College of Science, Engineering and Technology and a Professor of Biological Sciences. She served as a mentor circle facilitator and later co-PI on the MSU Catalyst grant. She brings extensive administrative experience to the project. She will be instrumental in advancing the changes identified as necessary by our project. Dr. Fuller is uniquely positioned to disseminate information amongst administrators and to begin to develop plans to implement changes based on findings.
- Dr. Paula Waddill
- Chair
- Professor of Psychology
- 212 Wells Hall
- pwaddill@murraystate.edu
- 270.809.3539
Dr. Paula Waddill, Chair and Professor of Psychology. She served as a co-PI on the MSU Catalyst grant. She has specialized training in research design and statistical analyses and has served as program evaluator for a variety of grants including projects funded by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the U.S. Department of Education, and the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice. She will work closely with the project evaluator, Mariko Chang, to apply her unique expertise in quantitative research to the design, implementation, and analyses of the quantitative survey and the existing institutional data.
- Dr. Robin Zhang
- Chair
Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences
- 335 Blackburn
- qzhang@murraystate.edu
- 270.809.6760
Dr. Robin Zhang, Chair and Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences, co-PI, led a subcommittee to study dual-career policies at other institutions and their possible adoption at MSU. She served as a co-PI on the MSU Catalyst grant. She will coordinate MSU-LIVE with the program coordinator.
Internal Steering Committee
- Bob Jackson, President
- Tim Todd, Provost
- Robert Pervine, Associate Provost
- David Eaton, Arthur J. Bauernfeind College of Business
- Claire Fuller, Jesse D. Jones College of Science, Engineering & Technology
- David Balthrop, College of Humanities & Fine Arts
- Tony Brannon, Hutson School of Agriculture
- Ashley Ireland,University Libraries
- Cami Duffy, Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity & Access
- Courtney Hixon, Human Resources
- Susana Bloomdahl, President's Commission on Diversity & Inclusion
- Melony Shemberger, Faculty Regent
External Steering Committee
- Karen Graham, University of New Hampshire
- Cristina Villalobos, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
- Joan Herbers, Ohio State University
- Mary Anne Holmes, University of Nebraska Lincoln
- Bobby Lee, West Kentucky Community & Technical College, Murray State Biology alumna
- Lauren Schmidt Martin, Appriss, Murray State Math/CS alumna
- Joyce Yen, University of Washington
Announcements
ADVANCE 2017 Climate Study Recommendations
The ADVANCE PIs have made the following recommendations to Murray State based on the
2017
Climate Study:
- Improve perception that work/life balance is a priority at Murray State.
- Provide childcare facility for employees.
- Develop faculty support network by institutionalizing the mentoring circles through
the
Faculty Development Center. - Assess workload expectations, particularly regarding teaching and service.
- Increase salaries to be comparable to peer institutions and establish mechanism for
annual
increases. - Introduce optional bias training with a view to improving recruitment activities,
and tenure
& promotion processes. - Increase exposure to policies about extension of the probationary period (see Faculty
Handbook).